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oracle-of-dream · 3 months

Text

Photo Finisher

Minors DNI

Summary: Yechan is from the rookie idol group, 82Majors, and his managers have set him up in the studio to get some amazing photos. But he's heard of your other prizes for good behavior, so he's interested in your other services...

Warnings: Male Reader, Blowjob, facial, degradation, domYechan, cum eating

Wordcount: 1.7k

You spent your morning selecting the songs for the playlist vibe you needed for today's photoshoot. Rookie idols were always tricky to deal with. Most were scared so stiff that they could hardly count as models...

Today, Yechan from 82Majors was your muse. The appointment was a last-minute order from management, and someone must've paid a chunk of money to call you in before noon. It's a part of your contract that you don't have to work before noon without an extra fee determined based on your mood for the day. It was 8am, so you told your boss to push for 40% higher than your usual rate. This usually moved companies away to pick a later time, but your boss immediately texted you back, telling you to get ready.

It was ten minutes before the photoshoot was supposed to start. Your staff set up everything from lights, cameras, software, and canvases. There was murmuring in the prep room, which is the room before entering the main studio, which meant the client had arrived. After some time, likely for hair and makeup to work him over, a young man with brown hair and strong cheekbones entered and greeted you.

"Hello, photographer y/n. It's a pleasure to be working with you, and thank you so much for taking our call so late minute." He bowed deeply.

"Yeah, hi. Just called me, y/n. Photographer y/n is a little much."

The boy nodded. "I-I'm Yechan, from 82Major!"

"I know who you are. I read the paperwork," you replied dryly.

Your morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet... This was going to be an extremely rough morning.

Yechan took his time to go around to the rest of the staff and introduce himself to each of them, handing out small gift bags from his company.

You looked at your phone for the time. 8AM.

"Okay, that's enjoy chitchat. I'm already at 30% on the irritated scale, and being behind schedule will make it jump to 50%."

With your clear directions, everyone hopped to attention and started scrambling to their stations. Yechan hustled off to get his hair and makeup re-touched before stepping onto the canvas.

"Yechan, if you have any issues or questions with the photos, tell me. The one thing I hate more than waking up early is someone who can't speak on issues.

Yechan nodded eagerly and took followed directions beautifully. Every single angle, down to the degree, was perfect. Clearly practiced. Because of that, you managed to wrap up the first set of photos easily.

"Let's take 10 and switch outfits. We're making excellent time, so let's keep the pace up." You announced to the team.

As you went back to your studio chair, Yechan approached you meekly.

"Yes?" you asked without looking at him, more interested in your phone.

"Um... I'd like to ask you about your services, sir." Yechan mumbled.

You rolled your eyes before looking at him. "My services? I'm a photographer. I take pictures. Be clear about what you want."

"Okay, then I'll be straightforward." Yechan took a deep breath before continuing, "I'd like to please you."

You raised an eye. "Please me? I'm happy enough that we're ahead of schedule. You want me to be happy? Keep working hard."

Yechan shook his head. "I don't know if there's some sort of secret code or something... it's honestly a little embarrassing to just say, you know."

You giggled in your seat, finally looking up from your phone. Yechan was a pretty good-looking man. Knows his angles, good body proportions, and a face card that doesn't look like it'll decline with its high limit. You bet he was about 6 1/2 inches, with a left curve. You read that he was from Canada and the brother of another idol, but you can't remember the brother's name...

You sat back in your chair. "Do you mean you want to have sex with me, boy?"

Yechan's face got pink instantly. "Well, they said you were really frank. But I still didn't–"

"So it's a no?"

"It's a yes! I do want to have... s–sex with you."

You smiled. "And what did you have in mind, young man?" The age gap between you wasn't big, but you could tell he was melting from you treating him like he's the younger in this situation.

"I want to do whatever makes you happy."

"So you have no plan? That's not very well prepared of you."

"I'm pretty skilled though! I got a few tricks!"

You smiled bigger. "Tricks? And what if I refuse? Yechan's face turned white. He clearly didn't consider the possibility of you saying no to him. "You didn't think I was some prostitute, did you? That you could just say, sex, and I'll give it?"

He shook his head, "No! Of course not–I'd never think that."

"Then tell me, what would you want? If you can have anything from this."

He looked around before getting closer to whisper. "Um... If I could choose. I think I'd be really into cumming on your face after you suck me off, and maybe I call you a few names and stuff..."

"Oh, that's it?"

He shrugged. "I'm a rather simple guy..."

"Then, simply guy, let's finish this up so we can get busy," you winked at him as you went off to find more of your staff, leaving him alone with a clear boner.

The photoshoot resumed, Yechan in his new outfit. The crop top really complimented his figure, and honestly got you more excited for what was coming. You could also tell he was pretty excited. His cock could barely stay inside his pants, a few pictures had his tip peeking out, and you personally deleted those to save him from the embarrassment.

After the photoshoot, Yechan went into the dressing room to get changed. You dismissed the staff for the night, thanked everyone for being present, and then walked into the dressing room.

"Hello? Anyone home?" You called.

Yechan let out a small yelp, covering himself. "I'm in here!"

"Yes, obviously. I came here to find you." You closed the door and locked it behind you. "I'm here to give you the reward you requested for being such a good boy today."

Yechan's face was red, his shirt and underwear were on, but his pants were still on the floor.

You winked at him, "easy access? For me? How considerate."

"That's not–"

You dropped to your knees and started crawling over to him. "This is your reward, remember? Anything you want goes, but if either of us says stop, we're done."

Yechan nodded, still covering his crotch.

You crawled right up to him, your face inches away from his dick. "Are you going to hide all day? Isn't it your desire to take charge?" You unbutton your shirt, letting it sensually slide down your shoulders, but not taking it off completely.

"So, I can just go?" Yechan asked again to be sure.

"Yep, just–" Yechan pulled your hair and pushed you into his crotch, making you huff his musk. Slightly sweaty, but pretty clean. You could feel his cock throbbing under the thin fabric, 6 1/2 inches, and curved to the left... You moved your hand to touch it, but Yechan slapped it away.

"Did I tell you to use your hands, s–slut!?" He hesitated at calling you a slut. But the submissive look in your eye reaffirmed him. "Use your mouth to take it out."

You maneuvered your mouth to his waistband, nose grinding against his abs, and dragged his boxes down. His cock smacked you in the face as you moved. His balls were heavy and full, he was throbbing like crazy, and even a slight graze earned a guttural groan. Yechan had really been waiting for you...

"Get to work, whore."

You look up at him, still keeping your hands off him as you caught his cock in your mouth and started licking.

"More than that, I don't want you half-assing it. I'm a busy man!" He pulled on your hair, pulling you into him to make you take more.

Yechan was starting to get more into it, which made you want to mess with him. He wouldn't last long if you tried to push him to it, but if he's so busy, then he can handle it. You straightened your back, corrected his hand to move your head and not pull your hair, and relaxed your jaw. Yechan noticed the change in your attitude as he started getting greedy. Pushing you deep, holding you there, all while telling you how much of an attention whore you are. You pressed him more, flattening your tongue and turning off the gag reflex. You were taking over.

"Wait, holy f–fuck," he moaned as he grabbed a nearby table. "Oh, you're so good. So, so, good at this." You squeezed his balls, earning more praise. "My balls too! Fu–fuck, baby just like that. Keep chugging it." He pushed you down, controlling the tempo, making it faster. "Your mouth is amazing, I–I'm gonna fucking cum." He almost whined as you pulled off of him, jerking him off and licking his tip. His pressure was building. Fast. "Please let me cum on your face!"

You giggled. "Say it in character!"

Yechan's words were still fumbling. "I–I will cum on your face?" He questioned before you squeezed his balls firmly. "God Damn," his cum shot out and landed on your face. "My... g–god." He wouldn't stop, pump after pump. It was at last 8 pumps, full of cum, now on your face. Each was accompanied by a thrust and whining moans from Yechan. You stroked him through it all, milking him completely before giving the tip a lick and a kiss.

"All done?"

Yechan breathlessly smeared his cum on your face, using his cock. Pushing it toward your mouth. "I'm sorry for the mess..." He said breathlessly.

You pulled out your phone and took a picture with Yechan. Cock still out and cum on your face, but a little less as you wiped some off. You put the tip back in your mouth for your picture, earning more begging from Yechan.

"P–Please! No more, I can't cum again!"

You help Yechan finish getting dressed and clean yourself up, sending him on his way and adding his photo to the folder with the others...

#82major #yechan #oracle of dreams #kpop x male reader #kpop x male reader smut #yechan 82major #82major smut #yoon yechan #yechan smut #82major x reader

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the-fiction-witch · 5 months

Text

Favourite Patient

Media The Artful Dodger

Character Jack Dawkins

Couple Jack X Reader

Rating Sweet

Requested I don't exactly know how to leave a request but I'm assuming I'm just supposed to comment. I was wondering if you could do one about Y/n being a patient at the hospital. I don't know what would happen but I just think it would be cool. ❤️

I sat on the bed, pouting.

I wanted to go home, I thought all of this was stupid.

Merely an overreaction.

"This is dumb."

"Y/n!" My mother snapped at me across the room,

"It is!"

"Will you please just let the doctor look over you,"

"Can I go home when he tells you there's nothing wrong with me?"

"If he says so then yes."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes,

Soon enough the door opened to one of the doctors, the younger one, I hadn't met him yet, and frankly I didn't want to.

"Good Afternoon, you must be Miss Y/l/n," He smiled at me,

"Umm."

"Alright, well going on then?" He asked sitting on the bed,

I glared a little and moved my leg to put some space between us "Nothing,"

"Nothing?"

"Y/n!" My mother snapped, "Tell the doctor."

"There's nothing wrong with me, I'm not wasting his time."

"That's very sweet of you," He smiled, "But tell me anyway, I'd rather you waste five minutes of my time to tell me you have a tummy ache than not tell me it's something serious."

"It's nothing." I sighed,

"Oh for-" My mother began before she simply told him what was wrong with me,

"Ah... that is serious." He said sounding concerned,

"Oh for no! it's not that serious really." I complained

"If you wouldn't mind waiting outside Mrs Y/l/n,"

"Yes doctor" She nodded as she took her bag and left, leaving me alone with this doctor.

For a moment neither of us spoke merely engaging in a staring contest, which I had to look away from first. Which only made him smirk.

"Is that true?"

"No, I-"

"Is it. true?"

"Yes." I sighed,

"Alright, I'll need to keep you in for a week under observation we haven't had any change in that time then I'll give you a full exam-"

"No, you bloody well will not."

"Yes. I will. and if I find what I'm gonna be honest I'm already suspecting then you'll need surgery."

"Ohh for- It's not that bad really."

"If you do. and you don't have surgery you'll die."

"and if I don't? If I don't and you being overly cautious put me through a surgery I do not need."

"Miss Y/l/n. Surgery is expensive, time-consuming, dangerous, I'm not going to put you through a surgery you don't need." He said, "But as a doctor, I can't let you walk out of here with the knowledge there could be a literal bomb inside you waiting to go off." He snapped, "Now. Miss Y/l/n, Let me investigate. Please."

"Fine." I snapped,

"Good girl," he smiled, he took some tools and did a very basic check of things "Yes as I suspected. But we still need to keep you in to be sure." He said

"And if I don't want to stay?"

He glared a little as he moved away, "Then legally speaking I can handcuff you to the bed, so are you staying willingly or am I getting the keys?"

"Fine."

"Good girl," he smiled, "I get this feeling you're very quickly going to become my favourite patient" He winked, "Name for the paperwork?"

"Y/n."

"A very beautiful name, Dr Dawkins. I'll be checking in on you daily and I'll make sure the nurse gives you lots of fluids and a comfy pillow" He smiled, "I'll see you later y/n."

He took his things and left the room to explain things to my mother, I just huffed and pouted angrily.

I had been here for three days and already I was bored out of my mind, every day Dr. Dawkins would pop in and check up on me sometimes even more than that but still I was just pouting and complaining wanting to go home,

"Aww, There's my favourite patient." He smiled as he arrived at my room, "Hi Y/n."

"Hello Dr Dawkins,"

"I brought you a present?"

"What?" I rolled my eyes,

"Ah ah. No. you don't get your present until you smile."

I sighed and forced a smile, "Good girl," He smiled coming fully inside my room, "Extra jelly," he enticed setting an extra jelly cup on my table,

"I thought it was one a day that's the rules?"

"It is, but... Between you and me." He winked, "I snagged it for you when I went past the kitchens" He smiled,

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome, anything to cheery that grumpy butt up" He laughed, "Now. any change?"

"Nope."

"Anything at all?"

"Nope."

"Alright, I might have to check you again."

"Again!"

"I need to check. if nothing improves I am going to have to book you in for surgery and you know both of us don't want that,"

"Fine." I sighed letting him check again, for what felt like the tenth time in three days.

"Alright, rest up I'll come back and see you before bed."

"Alright." I sighed,

"Good girl," he smiled before he left again.

I had been here now for six days and I was only getting angrier and angrier, I didn't want to be here, but he knew I had been trying to just walk out so make sure to look my door, I didn't want surgery and I knew he'd make me get it so I was attempting to climb out the window of my room, but just as I got halfway out, He opened the door.

"Are you breaking out?"

"...no,"

"so what are you doing then?"

"...Yes. I was."

"Go on then." He smirked leaning on my bed,

"I may have misjudged this."

"You think? attempting to escape out a third-story window?"

"I was going to walk across the ledge and go down the drainpipe."

"And in your condition that would certainly be a marvel,"

"Ohh shut up Doctor."

"You want help getting back in?"

"No. I'm fine."

"climbing out the window is not getting you out of surgery y/n. I know where you live we will just pick you up and bring you back."

"Who said I was going home?"

He rolled his eyes and came over picking me up and putting me back in bed, "stay." He demanded before going and locking my window, "You really are my favourite patient. even if you annoy the hell out of me." He smiled, "Now, get some rest I've booked your surgery in for tomorrow morning."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Do I really have to?"

"Yes." He laughed, "I'll be gentle I promise" he smiled before he headed out again.

I hated doing this but I had little of a choice, I was taken to the theatre and laid on a table with Dr. Dawkins over me.

"You alright?" He asked,

"Not really..."

"I know it's scary, But I promise I won't hurt my favourite patient." he smiled "Just go to sleep and I promise when you wake up this will all be over." He reassured kissing my forehead before gently resting the mask on my face, I slowly breathed it in and the world darkened until I slipped into sleep.

I woke in the little hospital bed, tucked up tightly in the covers, with Dr Dawkins sitting in the chair beside my bed watching over me. "Awww, Hello. How's my favourite patient?"

"everything hurts."

"It will for a while," he smiled, "but it's all over. all done. you're all better."

"Really?"

"yeah all done, you can stay here a couple more days to rest up and check for infection."

"Okay," I nodded,

"Okay? no arguing?"

"No."

"Good girl," He smiled holding my hand

"You waited for me to wake up?"

"Of course I did, I have to take care of my favourite patient." He smiled, "I'll be right here until you're all better" he smiled.

"You mean it?"

"I promise," he smiled kissing my cheek "Get some rest y/n."

"Thank you, Dr. Dawkins."

"you can just call me Jack, y/n."

I blushed a little, "Thank you, Jack,"

"You're welcome, Sweetheart." He smiled,

#thomasbrodiesangster #tbs imagines #thomas sangster imagine #tbs imagine #thomas brodie sangster imagine #tbs smut #thomas sangster #tbs #thomas brodie sangster #thomas brodie sangster smut #jackdawkins #jack dawkins #jack #thearttfuldodger #theartfuldogger #the artful dodger #artful dodger

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wonwoosthetic · 11 months

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could you do joel and younger gf/wife (like in her early/mid twenties) and some young guy hits on her while they’re together in like one of sarah’s soccer games or soemthing and joel gets all jealous and insecure

Only You, Only Me

a/n – <3 thank you for the request, I hope you and everyone else enjoys this ˙ᵕ˙ also: having to call football soccer in this fic hurt my European heart haha😭 pre-outbreak!joel was a softy, you cannot convince me otherwise

pairing – pre-outbreak!joel miller x female!reader

warnings – slight jealousy and insecurities, but besides that A LOT of fluff ˙ᵕ˙, a quick mention of sex

word count – 7.1k

series masterlist

2000

You had sprinted half the way from the bus stop to the soccer field, running the other half, only coming to a stop when you finally reached the entrance. The dress you had chosen to wear had started turning into a slight regret as you had to hold it down from flashing everyone behind you, but the weather didn't let you wear anything below knee height.

With a few more steps forward, greeting the people by the footstalls and other parents with smiles, you finally found yourself right in front of the field, your eyes immediately raking over the space, trying to find the set of bouncy chocolate curls you knew all too well. Sarah was quick to find, making the smile on your face widen instantly as you watched her sprint towards the ball rolling over the grass. You could watch her in her element every free minute of your life. Even though she wasn't right next to you, you could hear her giggles as they had engraved themselves into your brain.

For a second, you directed your attention toward the far back on the right, where your partner's usual seat was, only to find him another second later. A handsome face like his just stands out from the crowd. You grinned to yourself once you noticed he hadn't caught onto your arrival yet, getting to see his perfectly shaped side profile as he watched his daughter and her team hopefully win on another sunny day.

With a grin decorating your face, you almost skipped over to your boyfriend who was sitting on one of the benches at the lowest height, while the other parents had occupied the higher seats on the platform. Passing one grandstand and walking along the length of the entire field before you'd reach the one Joel was sitting on. Too focused on what was going on right in front of his eyes, he didn't even notice your figure coming closer and closer. It was only when you had almost sat down, and your perfume reached his nose that he turned his head to the side.

"Well, look who's finally here," he greeted you with a smile, opening his left arm to welcome you into the space right next to him.

"Finally? You know damn well I rushed out of my class to be here on time." With a roll of your eyes and a slight chuckle, you joined him on the bench, sliding into his arm swiftly. Sadly, as the new college year had just started, your work as a TA was more asked than ever. Multiple students had enrolled in your tutoring sessions - many more than you expected, explaining why you had to create an extra class for this Saturday, not finding any other available spots during the week. That's why you had been slightly late to the usual Saturday game that you would usually always attend hand-in-hand with Joel.

With a quick peck on the lips after a mumble of, "I know, I know," by your partner, the welcome wagon was finished, and your focus was back on the field. Joel's hand had quickly found its comfort spot on your thigh.

"What's the score?" You asked him, setting down the bag you had carried on your left shoulder.

A proud grin made his lips curl up. "1 to 0. Sarah assisted the first goal."

With a nod, you copied his facial expression. "Well done," you spoke quietly, eyes trained on the girl ahead of you.

"How were the kids?" To anybody else, his question would let one believe that you worked in a kindergarten or primary school, not at a college where the students were barely a few years younger than you. But you knew what he meant. It still made you chuckle.

Your hands found his, running your softer fingers over his dry knuckles. You always told him to start using hand cream since his work forced him to use his hands so much, and yet he never did.

"Surprisingly motivated, not gonna lie. For a Saturday. I expected like no motivation, no raised hands, no answers or questions, or anything really. But they were really up on everything and seemed genuinely interested," you explained to him.

Joel couldn't help but chuckle, taking your hand into his much bigger one, and turning his head slightly towards you. "Well, if I had a hot TA that turned up in summer dresses to class, I'd also be motivated to go on a Saturday." His comment caught your attention as you grinned shyly at him, pressing your lips together.

"Wow," you nodded along. "Thanks for telling me they only want to be there because of my looks and not because I'm a good TA, and they can actually understand the material better thanks to me." Adding a joking scoff at the end, getting a chuckle from him in return.

His hand came up to brush over your hair, "I would never doubt your ability as a TA. I know you're the smartest person I've ever come across.", He pulled you in so he could place a kiss on your temple, whispering into your ear, "But I just wanted to make sure you know how beautiful you look."

A chuckle escaped your lips as you straightened the hem of your dress. "I think you showed me that today already in the bathroom, huh?" Grinning teasingly at him as you reminded him of his inability of holding himself back when it came to certain outfits you'd wear - one of them being dresses, specifically summer dresses. The inability, that had made you almost late for class today as he just had to take you in the bathroom, in front of the mirror, bent over the sink, interrupting you as you tried to get ready and look presentable for the day. You weren't complaining though. You'd never complain.

A smug smile made its way onto his lips as his fingers dug back into the flesh of your thighs, the grip almost surprising you.

"And I'd gladly show you again later, darlin'." His remark earned him a slap on the upper arm as you told him to focus back on his daughter's competition, the smiles not leaving either one of your faces.

Thanks to all the running, you noticed your throat had started to run dry, and you were in a very sudden but desperate urge to find something to drink. Glancing around the seat, you tried to find out if Joel had gotten himself something, only to your dismay to find absolutely nothing.

You got his attention with a quick slap to his upper leg, "I'm gonna go get something to drink, do you want anything?"

Without hesitation, your partner reached with his right hand into the back pocket of his jeans. "Should I go?"

But you declined his offer, "No, no, it's fine, I'll be quick. Do you want something?"

He handed you over his wallet as he shook his head. "No, I'm good, thank you." Squeezing your thigh one last time before letting you stand up. Once your frame left the seating area, he noticed your bag laying on the bench and pulled it in closer, setting it down on his right side to keep an eye on it.

While you were making your way a little further back to where you had come from, the echoes of shouting and clapping became quieter and quieter with each step, making you turn around every now and then to make sure you wouldn't miss anything important.

You waltzed up to the woman in the snack truck and ordered two water bottles, knowing Joel would eventually want something to drink as well and Sarah still had hers in her backpack. As you waited for her to get them, the sound of a whistle ringing over the field reached your ear, indicating that the first half of the match was finished and they'd have a break now. Perfect timing.

You paid, thanked her one more time, and left to go back to your seat, getting a glimpse of the group of girls by the side of the field getting a speech of motivation before breaching out to find each of their parents to spend the break with. As you had your head down, remembering the slightly uneven side of the field where you were walking, you didn't catch the figure taking a few steps back. Not until you walked right into them. You immediately started to apologize and looked up, only to find Sarah's coach looking down at you, his hand on your upper arms as if he was afraid you'd trip.

"Oh, I- sorry, sorry I didn't look where I was going," you stumbled over your words, slightly embarrassed by what had happened.

The blonde man shook his head, a million-dollar smile wide on his face. "No, don't worry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have walked backwards, I don't know what I was thinking." His hands were still very evidently on your skin.

You chuckled, "What? Why were you walking backwards?"

He just shrugged, "I don't even know anymore." Laughing along with his comment. "Ben, by the way. Ben Miller." He dropped his hands, only to reach out with his right one for you to accept. Of course, you knew who he was. Sarah had been going to the training sessions of this team for a good year now, and the day she came home, beaming from ear to ear, talking all about how much fun her coach was, you knew they had found the perfect team for the little girl. You remembered her telling you all about the coincidence of meeting someone else with the same last name as her. Neither Joel nor you had the heart to tell her how common their last name had been in the US.

"Oh, yeah, I know," you let your palms touch, shaking his hand as you introduced yourself, holding on to the water bottles with your left arm, already feeling the condensation wetting the material of your dress.

"So," Ben cleared his throat. "You're Sarah's sister, right?"

His question almost made you choke on air. You knew you weren't the same age as most of the parents here, and the age gap between you and Joel had been a big subject to literally everyone but the two of you, but you had never gotten mistaken for that.

"Sister?! No, no, no," you quickly stopped him, trying to play off the continuous embarrassment with more laughter.

While you continued your conversation with the coach, hoping to leave a good impression as the woman taking care of Sarah and loving her father, the duo was in their own little world.

The youngest Miller skipped over to where Joel was now standing up, her backpack tucked underneath his seat as he held out her water bottle.

"Daddy, daddy, did you see? Did you see me?" The excitement was radiating off her, making the father smile brightly as his daughter ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Yes, baby girl, I saw you," he petted the top of her hair, noticing the few strands that had fallen out of her ponytail. "You wanna redo your hair?"

Sarah jumped back, "No!" Touching her head.

"No?" Joel repeated.

"My hair is okay," she assured him with a hand sign she cutely formed, making him chuckle and nod as he sat back down, finally handing her over the bottle so she could down the cold water.

"Did you see Y/N arrive?" He asked her, wanting to make sure she was aware of the fact that you didn't dare to miss out on her match.

Sarah smiled brightly and started nodding her head up and down quickly. "And she's talking to coach Ben."

"No, she went to go get some water. It's hot, you know? You need to stay hydrated," he made sure to add a little anecdote as he straightened out the small jersey she was wearing.

But the little girl shook her head as she pointed straight forward to the right. "No, she's talking to Coach Ben right now." Joel's ears perked up. His head snapped towards the direction, his eyes immediately finding your figure, only half covered by the frame of the man in front of you. He couldn't read lips, so God knows what the two of you were talking about, but he didn't need to know. Your bright smile and clear giggles didn't need a translation.

Joel wasn't a stranger to jealousy. I mean, how could he. You were beautiful, inside and out, incredibly smart - he knew he was the luckiest man alive to be able to call you his. He never missed the glances you'd get from each man passing you on the street or the ogling eyes from one of Tommy's friends. Even back when the two of you met, he had wondered what a young and pretty girl was doing sitting there with him, only talking to him, glancing directly into his eyes when you could have had the attention of at least four other men at the table. He had considered himself the luckiest guy in the world back then and still did. But he also knew what you were worth. And he was very well aware that, partially, he couldn't give you that. Even though, the reassuring sound of your voice, sweet like honey words falling from your lips were still marked on him, letting him know just how much you adored him, every part of his body, face, and personality, he still couldn't get, who in his past life he must've saved to deserve an angel like you now by his side.

Joel tried to keep his cool as best as he could. Tried to look past your crossed legs as you looked up at the other man, slightly hunching over, covering your mouth as you laughed at something he said. He couldn't have been that funny...

Ben was a good-looking man. Young, fit, and definitely a feast for the eyes. Every man would get jealous watching him talk to their other half. Right?... What could be oh-so-interesting coming from some blonde-frat-boy-looking guy that you'd grin at him like that?

He reminded himself once again... You were his. But then... Ben was exactly that type of guy strangers would expect you to be with. Not some older dude like him. Tommy loved reminding him of that. He could recall every double take people had to do when glancing at the two of you. Every eye up-down he got from women - the judgement just screaming from the look on their faces. It never seemed to bother you though. If anything, it would only make you hold on tighter to his arm or give his cheek an extra kiss. Almost as if you were jealous at every look he'd get from another woman that was a second too long for your liking. He could almost laugh at that thought. You had absolutely no reason to be jealous. There would be nobody ever to compare to you. Joel, on the other hand, had every reason to envy other guys staring at you. Because while you were all of that, he was just Joel.

The voice of his daughter got him back into the present.

"Dad!" She pushed her water bottle into his chest, catching him off guard. "Why don't you say hi to Coach Ben?"

"I already said hi to him when I came here, babygirl," he explained monotone, tucking the bottle back into the backpack before storing it under the bench again. Sarah didn't need to know the bad feeling he had gotten from the blonde man right from the start. Something was just... not right. The moment Tommy mentioned liking him and thinking about inviting him for drinks after he had picked up his niece from training one day, Joel knew he wasn't to trust. If Tommy liked someone, he immediately knew they'd be bad news. God, if Tommy wasn't his brother, he wouldn't even trust him.

"Hi, Y/N!" The youngest Miller suddenly jolted up and ran over to where you were now coming closer to the both of them.

You were quick to kneel down, opening your arms wide to welcome the little girl as she wrapped her small arms around your neck, pulling you in tightly, so your cheeks were squished together - something she had been doing to you for quite a while now.

You greeted her just as ecstatically, letting go so the two of you could continue your journey back to her father together while you kept asking her about the match.

"You're not tired yet, sweetie?" You wondered, settling back down next to Joel.

Sarah shook her head with a giggle, "No, that's why we practice, Y/N." She reminded you, making you chuckle.

"Right, right." You smiled before wanting to hand Joel one of the water bottles, but he pushed it back.

"I don't need it."

You rolled your eyes, "Just take it, I know you'll want it later." With a huff he accepted. You decided to ignore the slight sudden change in demeanour, brushing it off as your mind playing tricks on you.

Before the three of you could get into a full conversation again, the sound of the whistle hit your ear, letting you know the break was over. Sarah jumped up, kissing both you and her father on the cheek before running back onto the field, into the group of girls that were surrounding the coach again.

Joel knew better than to start a fight right now. He didn't want to know about what had gotten you so giddily while talking to Ben only a few feet away from him. But he couldn't fully push down the anger that had started to rumble up his body, making him turn quiet.

If only you didn't have to bring it up.

"You know," you started after having taken a sip from your water bottle. "Ben kinda reminds me of Tommy. Are you sure you guys aren't related?" Even though he knew it was supposed to be a joke, the scoff just tumbled from his lips as he sighed,

"God, fuck, I hope not."

You chuckled, not realising how much truth was in his comment. "Yeah, you already got your hands full with one troubled Miller." Placing a hand on his back, only then noticing the slight tension his body held. "He said Sarah's been doing really well, and she might even be able to go up a league next year. That would be cool, huh?" You glanced over at him, but Joel kept his eye on the field, watching his daughter race from one end to the other, the ball right by her feet.

"Mm," he grunted. "What else did he say that got you to giggle like a schoolgirl?"

You scoffed with a chuckle, "What? I didn't giggle like a schoolgirl." Noticing he wasn't grinning like you expected him to, meaning he wasn't teasing you. You scrunched your eyebrows. "What's gotten you so grumpy, old man?"

Every other day, this would've gotten you a snort from him return before he'd start tickling the soul out of you or would attack your neck in kisses, continuously teasing you for calling him that, knowing that the age gap between the two of you was something you'd like to play with every now and then, giving you a slight kick. Why, was still a mystery to Joel because he found himself anything but attractive with each passing year. Whatever you saw in him was now even more confusing to him than ever before.

His eyes fell down to where your hand had found its way to his thigh, covering it with his warm palm, petting it once before he took it, only to drop it back into your lap, mumbling a quick,

"Nothin', don't worry 'bout it." Before his attention was back on the game ahead of you.

Alright... you thought, weird, but... alright. You realised, there was definitely something going on in that head of his, but also knew that the Saturday match of his daughter was not the place to discuss it. You'd wait until you were back home.

The two of you spent the rest of the game in silence, proudly shouting and clapping for Sarah when she missed the goal by just an inch, hyping her up, hoping to motivate her to keep going. The car ride was filled with the youngest Miller's rambling about the match and the team they played against as well as the homework she'd need help with once they got home.

Before you left the field, Joel definitely didn't miss the smug nod Ben sent you before he disappeared as well, making him roll his eyes as you just waved, telling Sarah to do the same as he pushed you forward with a gentle hand on your lower back, making sure that it was low enough to send a quick non-verbal message to the young Coach.

At home, Joel decided to get started with the dishes while you helped Sarah with her Math homework, knowing you'd be much more of a help, thanks to your education and line of work than he'd ever be. Time passed thankfully quite quickly, and after making sure the little one got a good dinner, you sent her up to shower off the dirt and sweat from the hot day.

All while the older Miller was in the kitchen, scrubbing every single dish in fury, knowing how ridiculous others would find him if they could take a look inside his brain. He was so done with it.

The disgustingly smug face of that coach kept showing up in front of his eyes, reminding him of just how pathetic he felt. He wasn't even mad at you. Or was he? God, not even he himself knew, what was making him react like this. Just the mere thought of any other man by your side made his blood boil. It had happened in the past. His primal instincts would just take over - he wasn't necessarily proud of it, but it was just the person he was.

Joel just couldn't get it out of his head. It wasn't the first time you had talked to a younger good-looking man, and it most definitely wouldn't be the last. He wasn't 12 anymore, he knew people, no matter the gender, would want to get along with each other. You even had to deal with people around your age every single day at work. Suddenly, that thought got him even more unweary. He tried to shake it off quickly.

Each day you'd come home to him, exhausted and complaining about some of your students. Never about the professor you worked for. It was always the students, specifically male students. Guys your age. The way you'd whine about their lack of motivation and focus would make you fall onto the couch, right into Joel's comforting embrace as he tried to calm you down, talking down on those exact guys, reminding you of the fact that college stuff was the last thing on a guys' mind during that age. It always made you groan. Each time. It would make him proud, now to think of it. Proud that rather than expressing your admiration for someone your age, you'd complain about their childishness, reminding him how grateful you were to have found him - a man, not a guy. But you talking to Ben seemed like anything but burdensome to you. It looked too natural for Joel's liking. But he knew to trust you, having had multiple conversations with you about the future. But even then...

He caught himself drifting off, snapping back into the presence quickly. Joel was already starting to dart way too low, reaching a level of dark thoughts he'd much rather not have. The two of you were a melodic couple. A couple that spoke to each other freely, he reminded himself. You always assured each other that nothing should be left unsaid and getting everything out is better than keeping everything in, no matter how embarrassing or pathetic it might be because there are no such things in a relationship. He remembered a conversation you had once dropped during a cuddle session on the couch. For some reason, it stuck with him:

"You know, Barbs broke up with her boyfriend." You suddenly threw in the room.

Joel raised an eyebrow, quickly having to remind himself that Barbs was one of your girlfriends that you had met up with for a Brunch date with the rest of your friend group.

"Why?" You knew he could probably care less about it, but he still wondered. If only you knew how much he actually just enjoyed listening to you talk.

You sat up from your half-lying position where your head had rested on his shoulder. Waiting until he had turned his head from the TV, he found your serious glance on him.

"Because she hasn't come even once during sex in the four months they've been together."

Joel took a deep breath, his eyebrows scrunched together. "Shit... poor guy."

"Poor guy?!" You exclaimed, hitting his chest, and making him flinch slightly. "Poor her! She's always had to finish herself off in the bathroom."

"Honey," he sighed, "I don't think you should tell me all that much about your friends." Joel would never complain about you sharing your life with him, but some information about your girlfriends should possibly stay between girls.

"No, you should know about this," you complained back, making him look at you with raised eyebrows.

"Oh? You tryna tell me something here, darlin'?"

His question made you giggle as you shoved him slightly, giving him the opportunity to hold onto your arm to pull you back into him.

"Please," you rolled your eyes, "You'd know if I was faking it."

"Yeah, I know," he mumbled into your hair as he placed multiple kisses all along your hairline. He laid your head onto his lap, your gaze up at him as he looked down at you, the palm of his running up down the side of your torso.

"But like... I asked her why she didn't just, you know, talk to him about it. They were so perfect for each other in every other way, and I'm pretty sure that could've gotten fixed too. I mean, there's hardly anything that can't get fixed, and I know I wasn't present for like every second of their relationship, but I don't know. Anyways-" Joel chuckled at your rambling. "I asked her, and all of my friends turned to me and looked at me like I... just told them, I don't know- the only reason I have five toes on my left foot was because I ate the sixth one when I was a kid."

"Darlin'," Joel laughed at your comment. Your way with words would never bore him.

"What?" You chuckled back at him. "I'm serious. They looked at me so weirdly." He let you continue, his hand now comfortable on your stomach as your fingers found his to play with. "But they all understood her. They said that instead of talking to their partners about that, they'd much rather just end it."

The oldest Miller shrugged, "Yeah, but I mean if it's uncomfortable for them."

"But it shouldn't be," you argued. "Right?" You waited for him to lower his gaze. "I thought in a relationship you shouldn't feel awkward to talk about anything. I wouldn't want you to hold back on talking to me about something just because you think it's ridiculous or whatever."

"You'd want me to tell you that I haven't come in the time we've been together?" You nodded along to his question. "You don't think that would make you feel weird?" You shook your head.

"I mean," a quick thought shut you up for a second before continuing. "The thing is, I'd question why you wouldn't have talked to me about it earlier, but... I'd still want to solve that problem together, you know?" You waited for a nod coming from him, but he only tilted his head slightly. "I don't think there should be anything you'd keep from your partner. If you're in a relationship, you're already sharing so much with each other, like, you're literally giving over your body to trust another person with it, but then you don't want to talk about stuff like that? I don't know, seems weird to me."

His knuckles came up to brush over your cheek. "You get shy when I talk about what I want to do with you as soon as I get my hands on you too though."

You couldn't help but to grin. "Because you tease!" Getting a hold of his hand, you tried to push it away from you with a giggle. "That's different," you argued. "But if you have something that's bothering you or something and you think it's ridiculous or whatever, and that's the reason why you don't want to talk to me about it... I don't like that," you shrugged, making your point.

Joel nodded, a slight smirk still on his lips. "Alright, I promise, I'll let you know once you stop making me come, okay?"

You jumped up with a laugh, slapping him once again. "Can you be serious for once?! You idiot!" Giggling as he tried to dodge your hits only to pull you in closer again, not wanting to be apart from your body for even a second. You groaned jokingly, "Ugh, I hate you sometimes."

"I know," he looked at your lovingly, throwing you back onto the couch, hovering above you as he pinned down your arms, "I love you too." Leaning down to kiss you.

With a huff, he dropped the now wet washcloth onto the counter, ready to make his way upstairs, knowing you were most likely already getting ready for bed as well.

Even though your conversation back then was filled with laughter and banter, he understood the seriousness of it. You wanted this relationship to work, just as much as he did. And the only way to make that happen was through talking. As much as Joel hated it, hated using his words, never knowing what the right thing to say would be, he knew he had to jump over his ego this time. With grunts, he moved up the stairs, hearing the shower in the master bathroom being turned off right when he entered your shared bedroom. He pulled up his shirt, throwing it into the basket in the corner, a purchase you had made once you moved in.

You opened the bathroom door, letting the steam escape as you turned to the mirror, wiping it down before you got ready for your skincare routine. Joel knew, if he shied away from the conversation any longer, he'd never get to it. So, it was now or never.

Taking step after step until he reached the door frame to lean on, he could feel his heart almost up to his neck, swallowing hard. You saw his figure coming closer from the corner of your eye as you applied your serum, turning your head once he came to a stop.

"You okay?" You wondered once again, hoping to maybe get an answer in return this time around.

He didn't even dare to look into your eyes, finding the floor much more interesting. Joel took a deep breath. He crossed his arms and lifted his head to look straight ahead into the wall, past you.

"You ever think about dating someone younger?" He rushed over his words, hoping to get this over as quickly as possible. You stopped mid-movement at the sudden question being thrown into the room. With confusion written all over your face, you turned to the right, his body still resting against the doorframe.

"What?" Was all you could let out. You understood the question acoustically, yet hoped to have misheard it still.

With a sigh, he started again, "Do- ugh, you know what? Forget it." He blurred it out just as quickly, his back facing you right away as he moved back into the bedroom, walking towards the drawer to get boxers for the night.

"Joel," you were quick to rush after him, "What did you just ask me?"

"Nothing, forget about it," he shrugged it off, looking around the drawer. Before he could even put his hand inside it, you closed it, positioning yourself between the piece of furniture and him.

"Why did you just ask me that?" Your concerned voice tugged at his heart. You were too good for him.

You understood that Joel could possibly be insecure, just as much as anyone else was allowed to be, just like you were too sometimes. But you never expected such a question to come from him.

Joel placed both of his hands on top of your head to push it down slightly, placing a loving kiss on top of your hair.

"Nothin'. It doesn't matter, it's stupid." With a sigh, he walked over to the bed, sitting down on his side, his back once again turned towards you.

"Joel," you were definitely just going to let this slide, "You know exactly what I think of that 'it's stupid' shit."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his hands brushed over his face, a soft groan tumbling from his lips. "Yeah," he groaned, "I know, trust me. You have no idea how long I've been debating over asking you that shit."

That's when the switch in your head flicked. "Is that why you've been so quiet?" He only nodded.

With a sad sigh, you rounded the corner, coming to a halt in front of his hunched-over figure.

"What's got you thinking about something like that all of a sudden?" With another step forward, you were right in between his legs as he almost automatically let his hands drop to let you come closer, your fingers brushing through his hair.

"It's a stupid question-"

You immediately shushed him by placing your hand over his mouth. "There are no stupid questions. You know that."

A slight grin crept up on his face as you lowered your hand again. "You really are a teacher, huh?" You tilted your head with a smirk you tried to hold back, not wanting to let go of the seriousness of the conversation.

"Come on," you petted his cheek, "Tell me." His hands found their way to your hips, riding up underneath his shirt you had decided to put on for the evening, pulling you in just a little bit closer.

With another deep breath in, Joel glanced to the side, trying to think about the right words, but his head was too occupied to think about that right now. "That stupid Ben fucker, I swear to God..." he cursed as he mumbled, making you almost unable to hear him clearly. But you still caught it, thanks to the silence in the room.

"Ben? Ben Miller? Sarah's coach?" You pushed his face to make him look up at you. "What did he say to you?"

He shook his head, taking your hands off his cheeks to hold onto them, kissing your knuckles. "No, no he didn't say anything."

"Then wh-"

"I saw you two talking together. Well, Sarah saw you first, but then I looked over too," he started explaining, still avoiding your eyes while you kept your gaze on him. "And, I don't know, something in me just snapped, I guess... watching him talk to you... just... yeah..."

"You don't like him?" You carefully asked, unsure if he was finished with his statement.

Joel shook his head, "Not really."

You nodded along, "Good. That makes two of us." His head snapped up at your comments.

"What?" You just nodded again.

"He's pathetic, it's... like, I know we shouldn't judge people, but God..."

Joel's eyebrows scrunched in confusion, "Then why were you laughing so much with him?"

"Because I wanted him to like me."

"Why's that so important to you?"

"Because of Sarah!" You explained, "She really likes him, and I want to leave a good impression on him because I don't want him to maybe treat her differently or whatever just because I wasn't nice to him. I- what, did you think I was flirting with him?"

The oldest Miller stayed quiet. Sometimes no answer is also an answer. And this time it was answer enough for you.

"Joel!" You whined out.

"What?" He looked up at you as you took a step back. "Look at you. You tryna tell me he wouldn't be tryin' something on a beautiful woman like you. You deserve someone like him!"

"Someone like him?"

"Someone young. And good-looking. And Jesus, I don't even wanna know what else," he threw his right hand up in frustration.

"Joel..."

"Look," he stopped you. "I understand it, okay? I don't believe you'd do something like that," he assured you before pointing to his head, "But the guys up here don't get it."

You raised your eyebrows in surprise, slightly concerned, "What?"

He shook his head with a groan, "I don't know..." Joel just couldn't find the right words. He would never accuse you of cheating or leaving him just like that, he got that. But... there was just something...

For a second, the two of you decided to stay silent. But you couldn't bear watching your boyfriend, your life partner, on the bed, sitting in frustration.

"Joel," you started again, taking that one step closer to be in between his legs again, making him look up. "Why would I want a dude in his early twenties that works at a gym just so he can use their stuff for free and brags about having a lonely huge ass apartment, and the only reason he's the coach of a girl's soccer team is because his dad forces him to, otherwise he'd stop paying his rent."

Joel glanced at you bedazzled. Gazing up at you as you returned to raking your fingers through his hair while his hands held onto your outer thighs.

"What?"

You nodded, your lips pressed into a tight line. "That's Ben Miller."

Another wave of silence washed over the two of you before you decided to go one step further.

"Why would I want someone like that when I have a trustful man that is mature, incredibly handsome, one of the funniest people I've ever met, who makes me feel like I might truly be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen." You lowered yourself, placing a knee on each side of him to take a seat in his lap, your fingers never leaving his dark curls. "Who is the most amazing father to a wonderful little girl, has a good job, a house, a well-planned future, who knows how to treat women with respect, who I know would never hurt me in any way," you had started to lock eye with him, "who loves me for me and who makes me the happiest I've ever been." Joel's fingers were digging into the flesh of your ass, making you lean forward just a slight bit more. "Why would I ever want to have someone else?" You let your right pointer finger slowly run over the side of his face. "I couldn't care less about Ben or any other guy like that. They're all the same," you rolled your eyes, making him chuckle. "I love you. And only you. And they can look at me all they want, I only care about one man." You finished your speech before leaning in to place a kiss on his lips that have already been screaming for you. The plan for it to only be a quick peck was quickly thrown out the window when Joel's grip on you tightened, pulling you in as close as he possibly could.

You separated with heavy breaths from both of you.

Joel let go of your ass, his right hand sliding up your back, just a bit. "So," he smirked, "You only wanted me for my house?" The sudden question made you giggle out loud, holding onto his shoulders as you stared into his dark brown eyes.

"Exactly," you nodded.

The oldest Miller let himself enjoy the moment just a bit more as he took in your appearance. No make-up, hair ready for bed, in one of his t-shirts with underwear covering you. Perfect. And all his.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I didn't doubt you, I really didn't. Just...," A heavy sigh fell from his lips. "There are so many young men that you could-"

"Boys," you interrupted him.

"Boys?" He chuckled.

"If they're around my age, they don't deserve the title of a man yet. And I don't need that," you made clear, following him with a smile as well.

Joel dared to look down for a second. "I just..." glancing up, to find your eyes never leaving him, your kind eyes still brightly shining right at him. "I thought about what Tommy used to say about you and his friends fitting together way better than us two-"

"And Tommy better shut his damn mouth if he knows what's good for him," your comment got a chuckle from him in return.

"And your dad wasn't all too happy about us either."

You nodded. "And my dad also cheated on my mom. Twice. You really think I'm gonna take dating advice from him?" He knew your relationship with him was... wobbly.

"I know, I know," he mumbled, his hands now rubbing up and down your body as you snaked your arms around his neck, making sure you had him close to your body.

"I only want you, Joel," you whispered, your eyes passionately interlocked with his as you leaned in for another peck. Your action made him smile, tightening his arms around you too. "And your house," you giggled against his lips. Joel couldn't hold back the chuckle as he let himself fall back into the mattress, pulling you along with him.

joel taglist: @corvusmorte @aniia-x3

pedro taglist: @leslieelainetrask

#Joel miller #Joel miller x reader #hbo!joel miller #the last of us #hbo #tlou #Pedro pascal #x reader #x fem!reader #fluff #series #finding something to fight for

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writinginthetwilight · 5 months

Text

It started on the stairs. Part 2.

Eddie Munson x Awkward!Neighbour!Reader.

Chapter warnings: again not a lot, fluff, fem reader, awkwardness, social anxiety, readers a little bit of a mess. But aren't we all?

Author note: Thank you for all the love on the first part, there will be one more coming tomorrow or Christmas day.

Part 1 Part 3. Masterlist

You meet again two days later, leaving in your usual state of disarray for coffee with a friend whom you'd cancelled on one too many times. You tug the sundress down around you, two years old, a little snug and threadbear but all your other summer clothes needed to be washed so it would have to do.

He was walking in as you were walking out

His unruly hair was now tamed by a low bun, a makeshift motor head tank cut low under his arms, tattooed ribs exposed and headphones planted firmly over his ears.

It made your mouth run dry.

Singing softly to himself he hadn't looked at you yet, if you can just slip past without being noticed.

He glances up and there's a beat before recognition has him grinning at you all dimples and teeth and fuck, that smile.

He silently holds up the two bags you had given him now full of food as he nears you and you smile dopely at him giving him a double thumbs up as he passes, cringing as soon as he's gone.

You drown your sorrows in lattes and bagels as you retell the whole situation to your friend, she assures you it really didn't sound that bad. But the interaction still haunts you for the rest of the day and you fantasise that you'd said something quick and witty that made him blush, instead of acting like an enthusiastic parent on the sidelines at a little league game.

Why am I like this?

But as weeks went on it became almost routine, your schedules meaning you were both leaving or coming home at similar times a few days a week, and the conversations got easier as you picked up fragments of each other's lives.

He's from Indiana. Works as a mechanic. This is the first time he has left the state. He has appalling taste in breakfast cereal, but good taste in music. He throws his head back when he laughs. He has a really nice neck.

Then he just started calling on you on his way out. Just stood at your door in a faded black hoody, curls poking out under a beanie, looking ridiculously adorable, like it was nothing. He knew you were at work today so why not, around a week later he starts making coffee for you, just the way you'd mentioned you liked it the day before. So obviously you had started buying pastries from the bakery he told you about a few streets over.

You wake a little early those mornings, put a little extra effort into your morning routine than you usually would and find yourself, more than you would like to admit, ready early and waiting anxiously for him to arrive. Counting to five after he knocks before opening the door, in a lacklustre attempt to preserve some dignity.

But it was fun, and every time you squeezed your eyes shut when something came out wrong or laughed too hard at your own joke he would only look at you with those stupid big eyes and bump your shoulder or laugh harder. He made it feel okay and helped you settle back into the now instead of inside your head. All the way until you would part at the end of the street and off to your respective lives.

As leaves fall you relish in the change of season, the summer heat always meaning the obligation to be out and socialising was ever-present. But as the nights drew in it was your introverted time to shine, nestled down with multitudes of throws and knitwear, dove into books and hobbies that had been neglected and by Halloween, you had set up camp.

A near perfect yearly routine, which has you sitting in soft clothes, a bowl of Halloween candy in your lap and a joint freshly extinguished. Feeling every muscle in your body tense and relax as you stretch your sock clad feet up onto the coffee table and hum contently. Ready to fall asleep before you've even made it halfway through the stack of various horror movies you have accumulated over the years.

It was ambient and quiet the sound of the TV at a low murmur and the candles you'd lit flicker and dance over the walls as you watched the screen, mindlessly stuffing candy into you're mouth. You can see Micheal Myers hovering in the doorway behind Jamie Lee Curtis, the music reaching a crescendo when there's a quick knock at the door.

You almost throw the bowl of candy halfway across your apartment and sit bolt upright staring bewildered at it.

Picking up your snacks you wait for a moment before the knocking comes again and you slowly rise apprehensively walking towards it and looking through the spy hole.

Eddie stands shifting from foot to foot fiddling with his rings and your stomach almost falls out your ass. You spin, searching around for nothing in particular in a dazed panic before peering through and looking again to see him leaving.

You were swinging the door open before your mind could object

“Hey.” you try to act cool, casual and he turns eyeing you for a moment before a shit eating grin spreads on his face, arms crossing and eyes squinting.

“Do we get many trick-or-treaters?”

You look down at the bowl of candy and back at him.

“Occasionally.” You lie, a grand total of four people ever having knocked on your door and all were well past an appropriate age. “What do you need Eddie?

His face slackens, arms falling by his sides as you stare at him “Uh I.-”

Your eyes drift over his shoulder to your neighbour Sue in all her purple rinse glory shuffling down the hall and the realisation of the very distinct smell of weed that was likely drifting out your open door has you grabbing him by his arm.

“Want to come in?”

He laughs on a breath and it makes your heart stutter stopping just short of the threshold. “Unless you have somewhere to be?”

“Yeah, no. I mean, yeah I'll come in”

You all but push him through following behind and quickly bolting the door. You lean against it for a moment and walk down the short entranceway to find him standing further into the living room.

Deep shadows and candlelight run over him and you can't help but stare. He looks like a dream you've tried to remember after waking. Like you'll blink and he'll be gone.

“Cosy," he nods, looking to you, face soft.

You look around broken from your revere at the sight of your cluttered home. “Yeah, sorry it's a bit of a mess.” you try and wander as inconspicuously as possible to the pile of clothes at the the entranceway to your bedroom, ugly off-white underwear still on the top from where you'd freed yourself of their constraints earlier.

He snorts "You should see mine.” he smiles as he eyes the knick-knacks and frames that line your shelves walking over to inspect them and you hurl the dirty clothes into your room.

He turns as the door clicks closed and there's a pause, your brains too locked in on how you even got yourself in this situation to come up with any words and on any other occasion you might have tried to tidy away and tone down the evidence of yourself that surrounds you but he's already here.

"Movie night?" He says pushing his hands into his pockets and pressing his lips into a thin smile.

“Yeah, kind of a tradition." He nods looking over at the TV still playing and the lack of conversation is making your brain itch.

"I'm sorry for like, making you come in and shoving you in the door, Sue was coming and well the smell.” your limbs are heavy as you gesture around, throat dry and you blink slowly at him. If you were more sober you'd maybe read the flicker of a look he gives you as disappointed but instead, you read it as confusion.

“Because I'm high.”

He laughs loudly at that, “No?” he says all faux shock and dramatics and you swat at him as you pad over to the couch and plop down, he remains standing and you look over at him as he chews his lip watching the screen.

“Horror fan?” You ask, holding up the empty VHS case and he smiles down at you.

"I'm somewhat of a connoisseur." he seats himself heavily down on the other end and makes grabby hands at your stack of movies, shuffling through your wares as he kicks off his shoes, socked feet joining yours on the coffee table, your face scrunches at the toe poking out.

This is possibly a mistake, a beautiful one, but a mistake nonetheless, because it's seemingly all you both needed to start dropping by each other's more often

Late night smokes, takeout and movie marathons.

Flirting that makes you hide your face and stares that hold a little too long.

Midnight talks about home.

#my writing #eddie munson x reader #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x you #eddie stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie munson #eddie munson fem!reader #eddie munson x you #fluff #awkward reader

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mc-lukanette · 6 months

Text

Luka did his best to make certain of things. He never wanted to assume, nor get in anyone else's way. It wasn't because he was meek or passive, rather he was simply happy where he was and would rather gauge people's comfort first, seeing whether they wished to approach him first.

But he could also take a hint, and he'd smash every guitar he owned if he was wrong.

It started when Juleka had told them that Marinette had put more focus into her personal projects and gave away certain presents she'd been keeping in a chest. He hadn't been sure what caused the change, but guessed that it must've been some sort of epiphany or major life choice.

That alone wouldn't have affected Luka beyond being happier at seeing her happier, but then she began to approach him more. She sat next to him when he played, peered up at him with her eyes looking extra blue, and asked if she could come along to help whenever he went to get everyone drinks so they could keep going with their conversation. All the while, she would look absolutely happy.

He arrived at the Dupain-Cheng residence once to see her for a little creativity session, but the second Marinette's mother had called up that he'd arrived, there were rapid footsteps like she was moving around. He was encouraged to go up anyway, but he waited for all the noise to stop before opening the trapdoor.

He found Marinette sitting on her chaise lounge, one leg crossed over the other. She attempted to flip her hair - freed from her usual style - and only flinched slightly when it smacked her in the face. It was actually impressive how it was both clumsy and attractive of her.

Point being, she was blatantly gauging his interest in her, and Luka was indeed very interested.

He debated on what to do for a while. Asking her out was obvious, but he didn't have any experience. He'd been flirted with in school and confessed to once or twice, but he was never the one doing the pursuing, nor had he had a serious crush before Marinette.

He couldn't just do nothing though. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, a pleasant tingling sensation running through him at the thought of what that glowing face of hers might look like having fun on a date with him.

——

Luka arrived at the bakery, going through the side door as Marinette's friends were allowed to do in order to bypass the bakery itself. In his hand was a small, clear bag full of a few chocolate chip cookies he'd made.

While he was more used to cooking than baking, he knew that the actual quality wasn't important. Marinette loved using gifts and shows of effort as her way of expressing affection, which was what Luka set out to provide. He even caught himself smiling, thinking about them making horrible yet effort-filled presents for each other. They'd laugh about how silly they look, but ultimately keep each one.

He liked to think he wasn't an impatient person, but imagining the potential made him want to ask her out even more.

After ascending the stairs, Luka knocked on the trapdoor and called out, "Marinette?"

"Oh!" came a muffled voice from the other side. "Luka, you're here!"

There were some more shuffling noises, then a click as the trap door started to open. Marinette peered down at him with a smile, then gaped once he presented his gift.

"For me?"

He nodded, their fingers brushing as the tiny bag went from his hand to hers. She moved out of the way to let him in, Luka going into her room and taking a brief look around to see what she'd been up to. He could always feel her creativity spread through the room and it was one of his favorite things.

"Aw, they're so cute!" Marinette cooed, plopping down on her chaise lounge and raising the bag up to the light to admire it. "You made these?"

He nodded, though of course it was obvious that they weren't from a bakery. They were slightly misshapen and some had far more chocolate chips than others.

"Ohh, is this a flower from the Liberty?" she squealed, affectionately stroking the petals. "I almost don't want to eat any."

"Well—"

"I said almost," she huffed, already loosening the ribbon in protest. She took one cookie out, then retightened the ribbon to preserve the appearance.

Watching her, Luka warned, "They're probably not as sweet as the ones at the bakery."

"Please." She bit in and started chewing, only swallowing just enough to speak again. "I've had so many perfect sweets from my parents that all taste exactly the same. Give me imperfect ones any day."

He hummed, going over to sit down next to her. Though he wished to tell her that he’d make her as many as she wanted, he had to get past “step one” first. “Marinette?”

She'd just taken another bite, so she could only let out a grumble that she was listening.

Luka tapped his thigh in thought, mulling things over, then decided to just come out and ask, "...Are you doing anything on Saturday?"

It was her "free day" starting from when she'd tried to rearrange her life, but he figured he'd ask anyway. She dedicated it to "her time" usually, but had opened it up for him and only him on occasion. It was another - if not the - blatant hint.

Despite that, she pouted, squinting like she was trying to remember something. "Mmm, let me check..."

That was the second reason Luka had decided to ask her in her room: she kept her plans there. Marinette stood up, putting the rest of her cookie in her mouth, then wandered over to the center of her room so she could pull down her calendar and look at it. Her finger traveled across it to find the specific date, followed by a considerate tap.

She went to speak, but was delayed by the cookie still in her mouth. After swallowing, she admitted, "Oh, not yet, but I was planning to ask you out on a date then."

The atmosphere stilled, and so did Luka. He could see the moment Marinette realized what she'd said, her hand freezing in place on the calendar. He tried to say anything to comfort her, but what came out was more like a strangled laugh.

She beat me to playing the first note.

"W-wait! No!" Marinette turned, throwing her arms up and rambling, "I didn't mean—I mean, I did mean, but I didn't mean to do it now! My timing was off, you deserve better than that, and—"

"Yes," he interrupted the moment he could calm himself.

She paused, staring at him as if repeating the past few seconds in her head, then asked, "Yes that my timing was off, or yes that you deserve better than that... or both?"

"Yes, I'd love to go out on a date with you," he clarified, beaming up at her. Standing, he approached to be closer to her. "I was about to ask you out anyway."

"You—you—!" She gasped, jumping up excitedly and grabbing hold of his jacket. "Then yes! I want to go out with you too! I wanted to go out with you forever!" She tugged up and down on the fabric, still buzzing with energy, but halted at the realization, "Wait, but if I asked you and you asked me, does that mean we go out on two dates then?"

She was too cute. He wasn't sure if he could wait for Saturday, which suddenly seemed so far away.

"What about now?"

She tilted her head at him, curious. "Now?"

"Are you busy?"

She stepped away in contemplation, tapping her chin. "Mm... no? I think I finished everything I wanted to do." However, she pointed at him with a stern expression, apparently taking this situation extra seriously. "But, we'll have to go in sync down the stairs, or my parents will hear that we're both going somewhere. They won't be able to stop taking pictures of us!"

Luka weighed that in his mind, noting, "I could use a new wallpaper for my phone."

"L-Luka! You wouldn't!" Marinette shouted, blushing red at the mere mental image.

Their date today also suddenly seemed so far away.

#queuekanette #lukaneventte: No Context November #Flower Arrangement Shipping #Pro LukaMari #Lukanette

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thereceptioniststyles · 3 months

Text

Stolen Glances

Harry.

His name echoed in my mind, a constant presence that refused to let me sleep. I was consumed by an insatiable curiosity about him. When would our paths cross? What did he really look like? Did he possess the necessary skills to excel as a receptionist? These questions may have seemed trivial, but little did I know that Harry would become the catalyst for the destruction of my entire existence.

The days crawled by, each one dripping with mounting anticipation. I found it nearly impossible to concentrate, the mere thought of his imminent arrival sending shivers down my spine. And yet, fate had a cruel twist in store for me. Our meeting would not unfold as I had envisioned. No, it would be the other way around.

I parked my car on the desolate street, my hands trembling as I rummaged through my purse in search of my employee badge. The frigid air bit at my fingers, numbing them to the bone, making it a challenge to locate the badge amidst the chaos within my bag. After what felt like an eternity, I finally grasped it, only to have my nerves intensify as I hastened my pace down the pavement. The weight of the unknown bearing down on me.

I arrived at the entrance of the imposing building, the echo of my footsteps drowned out by the sound of my racing heart. With a trembling hand, I swiped my ID card, granting myself access to the enigmatic realm that awaited me. As I stepped inside, my eyes were immediately drawn to the reception desk where two girls engaged in animated conversation, their attention seemingly fixated on a phone call, undoubtedly scheduling an appointment. And then, it happened. Our gazes collided. Him.

Harry was nothing like the image I had constructed in my mind. In my fantasies, he was a polished intellectual, a charming nerd of sorts. But reality shattered my illusions. I stood there, rooted to the spot, utterly stupefied. Callie had not been exaggerating when she spoke of his attractiveness.

He was breathtaking. His dark hair cascaded in gentle waves, as though meticulously crafted to caress his forehead with effortless grace. His eyes, oh those piercing green eyes, possessed an intensity that could penetrate the very walls of my soul. His skin, concealed beneath a rolled-up button-down shirt, hinted at a fair complexion tinged with a subtle tan. And there, just beneath the cuff, tantalizing glimpses of inked artistry teased my hungry eyes.

My heart threatened to burst through my ribcage, its erratic beats echoing in my ears like a war drum. I prayed fervently that he hadn't caught me in the act of staring, my gaze fixated on him like a moth drawn to a flame. With trembling hands, I gathered my belongings, desperate to appear composed as I scurried towards my desk. I cast my eyes downward, then upward, anywhere but in his direction. I struggled to regain my focus, but it was an uphill battle. The world around me seemed to freeze, time grinding to a halt while my palms grew clammy with nervous perspiration.

As clients checked out and appointments were booked, I threw myself into the tasks at hand, a whirlwind of activity to distract myself from the magnetic pull of Harry's presence. I rushed to answer the phone, offering assistance to the person on the other end of the line. I did everything in my power to keep my hands and mind occupied, until I reached a point where distraction was futile.

One girl was engrossed in a phone call, another on her lunch break, and suddenly it was just Harry and me. I stole glances in his direction, catching glimpses of him, absorbed in learning the intricacies of the computer system. I could feel his eyes on me too, a magnetic connection that sent shivers down my spine. I silently thanked myself for taking the extra time to primp and preen, unwilling to appear anything less than presentable in his presence. After all, a guy like him, he was practically divine.

Suddenly, a voice shattered the cacophony of conflicting thoughts that had been swirling in my mind. The sound of his chair wheels sliding across the floor reverberated through the air, drawing my attention towards him.

"Hi," Harry's voice was a soft whisper, sending an electric current coursing through my veins. "I'm Harry."

In those few words, I felt a primal surge of wildness coursing through my being. It was as if my very essence had been awakened, ready to unleash an untamed, feral side of myself that I never knew existed.

The desire coursing through my veins was insatiable, an all-consuming fire that threatened to consume me whole. I longed to tear through any obstacle that stood between us, to claw my way to him and feel the strength of his arms, hidden beneath those rolled-up sleeves. My heart yearned to devote itself entirely to him, to become a willing sacrifice at the altar of his presence. In that moment, he was a god, and I was but a mere mortal, ready to surrender myself to his whims.

I nodded, my head barely moving, as if I were in a trance. I paused, gathering my thoughts for a fleeting moment, before slowly lifting my gaze to meet his. His emerald eyes bore into the depths of my soul, capturing my very essence in their hypnotic gaze.

"I'm Ayla," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I kept my introduction brief, fully aware of the potential to make a complete fool of myself. I had to tread carefully, to consider my every word and action in his presence.

A smile played at the corners of his lips, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he extended his hand towards me, an invitation for a handshake. My hand trembled as it found its place within his, our palms meeting in a delicate clasp. A surge of electricity surged through me, setting my entire body ablaze.

"So, do you enjoy this job?" Harry inquired, his voice laced with genuine curiosity and a thick British accent. I nodded, a silent affirmation of my satisfaction.

"Yeah, it's fun. It has its ups and downs, but then again, what job doesn't?" I replied, attempting to maintain composure despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.

Our eyes remained locked, an unspoken connection forming between us, until our manager emerged from her office, interrupting the charged atmosphere. She was a stern, no-nonsense woman who commanded respect with every stride. Her presence was a stark contrast to the intoxicating aura that surrounded Harry.

"Ah, Harry," our manager's voice cut through the air, her tone businesslike yet friendly. "I see you've met Ayla, one of our valued team members."

Harry released my hand, reluctantly breaking our connection, and turned towards our manager. "Yes, we just had a very brief introduction," he replied, his voice betraying a hint of warmth.

"Well, Ayla," our manager addressed me, her gaze piercing. "I trust you'll show Harry the ropes and ensure he settles in smoothly."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I absorbed the weight of her words. Showing Harry the ropes meant spending more time with him, delving deeper into the enchanting allure he exuded. It was an opportunity I simultaneously craved and feared.

"Of course," I managed to say, my voice steady despite the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"Ayla," she declared with a commanding tone, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "Step into my office. I have a question."

I rose swiftly from my desk, relief washing over me like a cool, soothing wave. She had come to my rescue, sparing me from the torment of prolonging the conversation with him. It wasn't right for me to entertain such thoughts, especially when I had a devoted boyfriend. Though our demanding schedules kept us apart, Beck and I had been together for nearly two years, and the last thing I needed was to be consumed by thoughts of another man who seemed out of my league.

I obediently followed Callie into her office, the heavy door clicking shut behind us. She pivoted to face me, her eyes piercing into mine, as she settled into the chair across from me.

"So," she began, her voice dripping with caution and concern, "Harry is undeniably attractive, and it's no secret that everyone finds him so. But you and Harry? That's a dangerous path, Ayla. I know you have a boyfriend, but life has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs, doesn't it? Focus on your work, stay grounded, and you'll be just fine. Besides, Harry, well, he's considerably older than you, isn't he?"

I nodded, though deep inside, I was engulfed in a sea of uncertainty. How could she draw such conclusions from a mere introduction and a brief handshake? It was unprofessional of her to pry into my personal affairs, but there was a grain of truth in her words. I had Beck, my pillar of support, the one who stood by my side.

All Parts

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equallyshaw · 5 months

Text

ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ: ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴍɪʀᴀᴄʟᴇ - ᴊᴀᴍɪᴇ ᴅʀʏꜱᴅᴀʟᴇ

warnings: none.

word count: 1.9k+

masterlist to holidays with equallyshaw

also trevor gets much love in this.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ were at their wit's ends, it was only 1 before christmas and their little girl still hadn't shown her lovely face yet. she was due the 19th, but the doctor was not worried in the very least. gigi had had a easy and healthy pregnancy, and a few extra days couldn't hurt they had said. though gigi would disagree. jamie had been a godsend, the past week. after getting back from the east coast trip - he'd been home ready for the arrival of his baby girl.

"jamieeeee." gigi called from the kitchen, as she bent over a bit, holding onto the counter. she was making herself some decaf coffee around 6 am, and began to feel contractions. he came in a bit too chalantly for her liking, "are you fucking kidding me jamie?!?! i could have been giving birth right here and you're strolling in?" she asked pissed off, but to her defense- they were her hormones talking. he grinned a bit, walking over and placing a hand on her hip. "is it time?" he questioned, and she shook her head. "no but they're starting." she said hopefully. he nodded, placing a kiss to her temple, rubbing her hip's for comfort. the contraction passed, and jamie pressed a kiss to the back of her head. "now sit down, and let me finish breakfast." he whispered, and she nodded heading over towards the living room couch. "scrambled or fried?" he questioned, pulling out eggs from the fridge. "umm..fried." she said rubbing her stomach. she began to grow nervous, this was happening she thought. and it was happening quickly, as another contraction began. "were gonna do scramble so its easier to digest." he said and she rolled her eyes, sighing softly. He finished up 10 minutes later, bringing her decaf coffee and eggs over. "thankyou hun." she said sitting up, and scooted towards the end of the couch. he sat down beside her, rubbing her lower back softly. trying to comfort her in any way at this point.

it was about an hour later when her contractions got worse and much closer. gigi was currently standing by the door while jamie wen to grab a few extra things from the bedroom, and while she was tapping her foot on the hardwood floor she saw the one person she didn't want to see. especially not at 7 am. "oh sweet mother of god, not you!" she howled at the curly-haired boy, who only laughed in response. "jamie come on!" she said throwing her head back, and shutting her eyes. a contraction hit and her breathing became labored as she bent over, and trevor's eyes instantly went wide. he began to panic, "oh my god, oh my god!" he said substantially loud as jamie walked down the stairs. he hurried a bit quicker as he saw gigi bend, as trevor waved his hands debating if he wanted to place a hand on her back to comfort her or if he thought it was too much. "i swear to god trevor, if you fucking touch me." she growled, and jamie only chuckled in response. "you. go turn the car on. now." he said pushing trevor a bit, while pressing the keys into his chest. he saluted him playfully, before jamie the hospital bag and his grin dropped. "hush." jamie said before turning back to gigi, "i swear to god if you're love fest doesn't stop im gonna puke." she huffed, and trevor quickly left.

"hey hun, can you look at me." and she nodded, looking up at him. "were heading out, ok? where do you need me?" he questioned, and she pointed to where she needed his helpful hand on her aching back, and one to her hand for stability. "let's go meet our baby girl." he hummed, as they walked out of the front door.

gigi cried out in pain as jamie held her hand, her mom on the other side of them. "ok gigi! its time, one more push and your little girl is here!" her doctor encouraged her and she looked towards jamie shaking her head. "no! i can't i can't!" she exsasperated, and he shook his head. "no! you can do this, all of us know you can. ok, baby? you're the strongest girl i know!" he said and she nodded through tears. she groaned, taking one last breath and pushing. about 5 seconds later, she was out. but they didn't know at first. their little girl was silent, and quickly taken away. gigi shut her eyes exhaustedly, feeling as if she couldn't keep her eyes open. "you did it baby, you did it!" he said kissing her temple, and when he looked down he began to panic. "whats going on?" he questioned, as a nurse began to pull him out of the room along with her mom.

"what's wrong with her?" her mom questioned, "seems as though her blood sugar got too low. they are doing it out of precaution." the nurse said, "what about our daughter?" he asked before she could go back inside. "again, out of precaution. they are running some tests as we speak." she said before walking back inside. and it was if the universe had felt their panic, because they heard the shrieking sound of the newborn baby. her mom pulled jamie in for a hug rubbing his back, "they'll be ok jamie. i promise." she said over and over again, to reassure not only jamie but herself as well.

about 25 minutes later, the same nurse came out holding their baby girl. jamie stood up from the chair in the hallway and quickly pulled her into his arms. completely mesmerized, "hows my wife doing?" he questioned not looking up from the newborn. "she's doing better, she's up and alert but the doctors are running a few last tests before you can come in with her." the nurse responded, and jamie looked up before nodding. her mom came up beside jamie and smiled down at the new born, "she's got your eyes hun." she said giving his shoulder a squeeze. "she's got your family nose." he hummed and she smiled, "that you're right!" she grinned.

gigi back in the room could only think about the newborn and jamie. "can i please see her? them?" she questioned as they put more fluid down the iv. they nodded, "only a few more minutes. we need to get your blood sugar stabilized and then you'll be good to go." the nurse said sweetly placing a hand on her shoulder, "you did good mama. all of us are so proud of you." and even if it was the most basic thing ever, she began to cry. her hormones were at an all time high still, and this sent her overboard. "okay we just got the all clear, were gonna go get them. ok?" they said and she nodded smiling. "jamie, mama is ready." the nurse said peaking out of the suite, and he quickly made his way in. the sight made her heart and eyes swell, and she quickly wiped away tears. "hi baby." he said softly giving her a big kiss, before placing their little girl on her chest. gigi held her head back, sobbing. jamie kissed her temple, "i was so scared." gigi said through sobs and jamie nodded. "i - i thought we lost her." she whispered, not believing her own words. he nodded understanding, "i know but she's here. you're here. all healthy and stable." he said resting his chin on her shoulder, as they looked at each other.

"is my mom out there?" she questioned and he nodded, "you can go get her. i wanna see her." and he nodded, going to fetch her. "mom!" gigi said excitedly, and her mom smiled widely. "go get your parents too and my dad!" gigi said looking past her mom for a brief second, and jamie nodded giving her a quick peck on the lips before heading out. seeing her pass out due to low blood sugar, absolutely terrified him, and seeing her lifeless, is something he wishes and prays he never has to see again.

back in the room, her mom and her cooed over the little girl. "do you guys know what her name is gonna be? i know you two were waiting till you saw here to decide." her mom said sweetly and gigi nodded. "that's a thing for tonight, i suppose. just wanna soak in all of you guys." she said shrugging, deeply enamored by this newborn.

a burst of contained commotion erupted at the sliding door, and gigi looked up seeing her dad walking in first. he smiled widely, turning back to look at gary- jamie's dad. "oh my god..." gary said patting her dad on the shoulder a few times, while tina came to her mom's side next to her. "she's adorable!" she gushed, while the two dads came over and smiled. "everything ok?" gary asked sweetly, "yes! were all good." gigi hummed looking down at her little girl. "first one who sanitizes gets to hold her." jamie said coming up behind gigi and the grandparents quickly panicked, trying to find some. their first grandchild - it was an expected frenzy. her dad ended up getting to it first, causing gigi to giggle.

"now give er here." he said making grabby hands, and jamie chuckled as gigi transferred her over. about 5 minutes later, gary demanded to hold her and he got her. "so respectful." tina murmured, causing gigi's mom to stiffle a laugh. "ok-ay hun, here you go." he said sarcastically, passing her over. tina quickly smiled, as her and gigi's mom looked down at her. "name yet?" gigi's dad asked, and the young couple looked at one another. "that's a tonight decision." jamie announced, and gigi nodded in agreement. finally the little girl was passed to gigi's mom, and the two grandmothers continued to whisper over her.

a few hours later, it was aound 8 pm when the grandparents left and trevor waltzed in for awhile. "oh my god- im an uncle!" he said throwing his hands up once they told him. gigi and jamie chuckled, and then they panicked when trevor kept mumbling "oh my god" as he held his niece. "your mama and daddy did good, ill give em that." he whispered, as his niece wiggled in his arms with a burst of energy. trevor looked up frowning, "she's so cute!" he exclaimed and gigi smiled, before yawning. jamie could see how tired she was and knew he'd be getting trevor to leave soon. "welp, imma head out if you'd like to take this one here." trevor mused, handing her over to jamie who transferred her to gigi, so she could nurse. "ill walk you out." jamie said giving gigi some privacy to nurse.

as jamie came back in, the newborn was sleeping soundly on his wife' chest. "finally! some peace and quiet." she giggled softly, "thankgoodness! i thought trevor wasn't gonna leave and we'd have to adopt him." he hummed, causing gigi to snicker. "thankfully we didn't have too." she smiled softly, looking down at her chest.

"bowen mackenzie." jamie announced, as the two of them looked down at their little girl. gigi smiled at the name bowen, an homage to canada - bowen being apart of the vancouver area, which is a fond summer trip for them. then mackenzie, honoring jamie's grandmother. "i love it, bowen mackenzie." she hummed looking up at jamie. "our christmas miracle." he smiled before closing the gap between them.

hope you all enjoyed, please like and reblog if you did!

also not the best, just wanted to get this out there lol

tags: @dancerbailey3 @toasttt11 @jayda12 @jackhues @cuttergauthier

#jamie drysdale #trevor zegras #anaheim ducks #holidays with eqallyshaw #equallyshaw masterlist #jamie drysdle fic #jamie drysdale imagine #jamie drysdale blurb #jamie drysdale x oc #nhl #nhl fic #nhl imagine #nhl blurb #hockey blurb #hockey fic #hockey #hockey imagine

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shoumeitsuki · 5 months

Text

omg first post!1!1!11!

shu yamino x gn!reader

characters : shu yamino (extra characters : elira pendora, rosemi lovelock, mysta rias + luxiem)

warnings : shu yamino (it's a fluff btw)

summary : your classmate, shu, also one of your best friends for years now, and also your crush, asked you to meet him at the rooftop today when you both went out to study at a cafe.

⇚ ↺ ⇛

yesterday, shu asked you to come with him to a cafe that just recently opened in town to study. you had a physics test upcoming, so you agreed.

you made your way to the cafe where you guys agreed to meet. when you arrived, it seemed shu hadn't came yet, so you waited patiently outside the cafe.

"hey! there you are." a familiar boy with medium length brown hair and streaks of magenta and purple with his signature banana-shaped yellow ahoge (ahegao according to selen) called out to you.

"oh, hey shu!" you also greeted to him. "did you wait long? we should go inside. it's cold out." shu said, offering his hand. you took his hand and you both went inside the cafe.

"welcome to subara cafe! please have a seat. here's a menu, and when you're ready to order, please ring this bell." the waitress said, while giving 2 menus to shu & you.

you and shu sat down at a table for two near the window that has a view of the streets outside. it was the afternoon, so the streets were quite busy from parents picking up their children from school.

you two looked at the menu for a bit and picked what you wanted. then, you rang the bell to call for a waitress and placed your orders.

shu had ordered a blueberry cheesecake to try and some coffee, whilst you decided to order a matcha crepe cake and some black tea alongside it. (if you're allergic to black tea or the stuff in the matcha crepe cake you can change it)

while waiting for your orders, you decided to bring out some books and flashcards to study.

shu also had a physics exam since you both were in the same class, so you studied together. you asked eachother questions that might come up in the exam.

then, the food came. the presentation was really pretty, and you decided to take a picture of it. you also took a picture of shu's food.

you both dug in, and it was really good. the crepe cake was soft, and the matcha taste was strong but not too strong. the black tea also had lemon and honey, with a packet of sugar on the side of you wanted some. (you can also change this)

you both ate and shared your food. when you were done, you went right back to studying.

it was now 17:00 (5pm), when you both finished studying. you both packed up your stuff and got ready to bid eachother goodbye.

"hey! uh- could you maybe... meet me at the rooftop at school tomorrow at... 12:00 (12pm)..?" shu asked. "why?" you asked to shu. "i just needed to talk to you about something." shu explained, yet it didn't really answer your question. you just agreed and parted ways, going back home.

⇚ ↺ ⇛

it was now the next day, and also the first day of a new week, monday. since you live in the dorms, the university wasn't that far from you. it was walking distance.

last night, you thought about why shu asked you to go to the rooftop today, but just ended up sleeping thinking that you're overthinking it.

"hey! good morning!" your roommate, rosemi greeted. "oh, good morning rosemi." you greeted back. "where's elira?" you asked to rosemi. she was usually the one up first. rosemi just shrugged. "maybe she went to university early for some matters. you know she's part of the council." rosemi said. "maybe." you said, before going to the bathroom to get ready.

you showered, brushed your teeth, and had breakfast. you rechecked your bag and then made your way to the living room of the dorm. rosemi was ready, too, so you both went to the university together, but this time without elira.

as you got to the gate, you found shu hanging out with luxiem. you heard that mysta had to go overseas as his mother was a famous detective that had to solve a case in france, he also had to go there, but temporarily of course. luxiem was definitely gonna miss him, but they knew he was definitely gonna come back soon.

since you and rosemi were unfortunately not classmates, you had to separate ways. you made your way to your classroom, 2-A and went inside to go to your seat.

your seat was fortunately by the window, so you got to see the outside of the university. since your classroom was far inside the building, you could see behind the building.

since the university was at a place near the forest, the surroundings were of trees and nature. it was gorgeous, and you would definitely miss this view whenever you got stressed and needed a distraction during class.

you decided to make little doodles on a sheet of paper, look out the window, talking to your classmates, and read about physics again for around 20 minutes until the bell rang.

the first subject was physics, so the exam was brought early in the morning. you absolutely hate physics, but somehow decent at it.

the physics exam wasn't that hard, and you finished it in 30 minutes. you rechecked again for around 3 times to make sure and you had 15 minutes to spare.

you just looked out the window most of the time. when the time was over, you turned in your exam papers and sat down again.

the next classes were quite boring as you pondered about what shu wanted to talk about later.

when lunch arrived, you quickly ate your lunch since it started on 11:45 and made it to the rooftop just in time.

you looked around for a certain brown haired boy and found him looking down at the view of the streets. when he heard footsteps, he looked behind him.

"oh! there you are." shu exclaimed. "hey, shu! what did you wanna talk to me about?" you asked, curiously.

"so... hey, I know we've been best friends for a long time. whenever i was sad, you always tried your best to cheer me up, and it worked. i think you're smart, diligent, clever, hard working, and... pretty. i really never thought of the day i'd say something like this, but I have to get it off my chest. y/n... 𝙞 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪." shu confessed.

your eyes widened, not responding. shu's expression became sadder, and told you "you can reject me now. i know i'm way out of your league." shu said, in a disappointed voice.

"𝙞... 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙤. i've liked you for a long time now." you blushed, you could tell you're redder than a tomato.

"i- wait, really?!" shu's eyes widened in surprise. never in a million years shu would have thought you liked him back.

"well, if you wouldn't mind... 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚?" shu asked, blushing even harder as if it was possible. "yes!" you accepted, faster than you could think.

shu pulled you in for a hug. as you pulled away, shu's lips closed in on yours.

⇚ ↺ ⇛

𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀!

when you guys left the rooftop, it turned out luxiem and your roommates, elira & rosemi, planned this together. the reason elira went early this morning was not because of the council, but because she decided to discuss early with luxiem before shu came.

yesterday, the reason elira & rosemi stayed up longer than usual was because they were discussing about what they were gonna do during the confession.

why they knew all of this? because shu talked to luxiem about his feelings to you, and spilled them to your roommates. since you also spilled your feelings about shu to them, they planned together to make shu confess.

they recorded the confession and shared it to you guys, so that it becomes a memory. they told noctyx, the rest of obsydia & lazulight, and even ethyria.

looking back now, you really missed those university days. but now, you're living with your husband and 2 children, a daughter and a son (could be adopted btw), and now, you go by y/n 𝙮𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤.

#shu yamino #fluff #nijisanji en #fanfic #sorry #shu yamino x reader #luxiem #luxiem x reader #nijisanji en x reader #gn reader #vtuber x reader

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happilyhertale · 1 year

Text

Finding the courage – Tom Bennett x female!reader, Part 8

Summary: You spent a sheltered childhood in Brighton. Until the time when your father died. Your mother is overwhelmed with the role of caring mother, which eventually leads you to leave home and seek happiness elsewhere. But you have not in the least anticipated what or who awaits you in your new adopted home.

Pairing: Tom Bennett x fem!reader

Warnings: In some parts Smut as well as Violence. There will be an extra warning for the respective parts.

Author’s note: Hey you (:

This short Tom Bennett story is based on the request that was sent to me.

The story takes place before the first season of World on fire. I hope you will enjoy the story! English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Sorry again for taking so long to post the next part! I hope you like it (:

Word count: 2.7k

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Other stories of mine

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Several days have passed since your first night with Tom. Your thoughts keep wandering back to your night together. How he held you in his arms. His lips on your skin and the kisses they left behind. It... He was just perfect.

Since that night, Tom has always sought your closeness. And you couldn't help it, you enjoy his closeness. In the mornings, when you have finished your work, Tom often pulls you up the stairs and into the room. He lies on the bed with you. He holds you in his arms, caresses you, kisses you. Until you literally beg him to sleep with you. You long for his touch. It is truly surprising that no one has caught you caressing each other yet.

One afternoon you have some errands to run. You have made your way to the market place to buy groceries in a shop. As you leave the shop with your purchases, you notice a man. He is tall and wearing a long coat, although the weather is clearly too warm for a coat. The cap he is wearing is pulled down low on his face, but you can still see that he is staring right at you. His eyes are cold. You turn away from him and want to walk away. But he comes up behind you. You look over your shoulder briefly and see him continuing to stare at you and chase after you. You look ahead again and become even more nervous. Your heart is pounding wildly in your chest.

When suddenly you hear his voice behind you, "Do you think you can just run away like that?"

You stop, frozen. Slowly you turn around to face the man. You look at him. A disgusting smile is on his lips.

"Your mother promised me that you would go into business with her. That you would make a lot of money. But then you disappeared..."

Your breath catches in your throat. A shock runs through your limbs. But you don't want to show him that.

"And I told my mother that wouldn't happen," you reply.

He comes closer and closer to you until he is standing in front of you. Your heart beats wildly in your chest. Your hands are sweaty. Everything in you screams to just run away, but you are paralysed. He is so close to you that you can smell his scent. A mixture of sweat and cigarette.

"That's not how it works," he almost whispers. He brushes a strand of hair out of your face. You can't move for fear.

"You really look like your mother... You could make good money... Think about it"

And then he suddenly steps away from you. He just leaves. As if he hadn't just made you a disgusting offer.

You're irritated, you can't think straight. Your breathing is heavy. Slowly you turn around and head straight for home. You don't know how you got home. You don't notice much of your surroundings.

When you arrive home, you see Tom standing in the kitchen. He seems to have come home in the meantime, while you were doing the shopping. He is standing with his back to you, looking out of the window into the courtyard and smoking a cigarette.

You go into the kitchen and put down the bag with the groceries. Slowly you begin to put the groceries away. You tremble slightly, but you try to remain calm. You just want to go upstairs. To lie down. Be alone. You feel disgusting. You haven't had to think about your mother for a long time. But this encounter with the man has thrown you completely off track.

When Tom suddenly snaps you out of your thoughts, "Don't you even say hello to me anymore?"

His voice sounds somehow cold.

You stand straight with your back to him, your hands still shaking, "I... I'm sorry Tom.. Hey..." you almost whisper.

You turn around and try to smile. You hold your hands to hide the trembling. Tom turns slightly towards you, but you can't look him in the eye. You are afraid that if your eyes meet, you will cry. You don't want to cry, and you certainly don't want to have to talk about why you are crying all of a sudden.

But in the end, you look him in the face and see that he is angry. Suddenly you are worried and you go around the table, you want to reach for his hand. But he pulls it away.

You stop moving, "What's wrong?" you whisper.

But he just looks at you, he looks hurt somehow.

"Why are you like this?" you ask softly, tears welling up in your eyes.

Tom snorts softly, "I don't know. Maybe because you're starting to act like a slut?"

You gasp out, "Wha... excuse me?" you take a step back.

"Well, first you sleep with me and then you come close to another man in the open street... Or do you take money for it?", he lightly blows his cigarette smoke at you.

You can't breathe, your chest tightens.

Tom immediately regrets his words when he sees the pain on your face.

He takes a step towards you, "Y/n...", but by then he already has your hand in his face. With all your strength you slap him.

His face immediately turns sideways from the slap and you turn around. You run to the stairs and up to the room. Tears are streaming down your face. Tom immediately comes after you, calling your name. But you ignore him. You are faster than him and when you are in the room, you lock the door behind you. Tom is at the door shortly after you, knocking furiously on it. But you don't open the door.

The knocking subsides.

"Y/n... Love... please let me in..." you hear him whisper.

But you sit on the bed, sobbing into the pillow.

"Love... I'm sorry... Please...", he continues to whisper.

You do not move. You just keep crying.

"Fuck!!!", Tom suddenly shouts. You hear him banging hard on the door again and then you hear him going down the stairs.

You stay in the room for the rest of the day. At some point you hear Lois and Douglas coming home. Lois came straight up, you let her in. She just saw your red eyes and immediately took you in her arms.

"Y/n! What happened?" she asked as she hugged you.

You just shook your head slightly, "I just want to stay in bed today..." you whispered.

She just nodded, "Okay... If you want to talk, I'll be downstairs."

You have been in bed ever since.

When Lois came up in the evening, you talked briefly. She tried to distract you, you even giggled a few times. Lois soon fell asleep. When you heard her soft snoring, your tears started running again. You were hurt. How could Tom say such a thing to you? It hurts you. He knows about your past. The story with your mother. But still he says something like that to you. At some point you fall into a restless sleep. Nightmares plague you. And in each of them Tom is present. Or the man in the long coat.

Tom is in the pub, in one of the back rooms on a sofa. He doesn't want to sleep at home. He feels miserable. Seeing you with that man... It's broken his heart. He only saw you from a distance, but the man got as close to you as only he could... or at least he thought only he could. When the man brushed a strand of hair from your face, he went home. He was so angry, so hurt. He felt connected to you. No woman has ever meant as much to him as you do...

But when you came home and couldn't even look at him, he knew there was someone else. The rage took hold of him. He wanted to hurt you with those words the way you hurt him. But when he saw your face after those words left him, he was immediately sorry. He will never forget the look on your face. He has been miserable ever since.

He turns to the side. He wants to try and get some sleep.

The next morning you do the housework again. You wash some towels in the bathtub, your thoughts turn to Tom. When you came down to the kitchen in the morning, you saw that Tom was not asleep at home. But you don't care. At least that's what you tell yourself. That he would say something like that to you... You are just still hurt.

As you finish washing the towels and are about to go downstairs with the laundry basket, you hear the front door open. You arrive downstairs in the kitchen and see Tom standing in front of you. You just look at him.

"Y/n...", he whispers.

You say nothing.

"I... I slept in the pub... well actually I didn't sleep at all...", he says softly.

"Good," you reply dryly to him. He looks to the side for a moment, "Y/n..." he pauses.

"Tom," you interrupt him, "If you're done now, please move aside, I need to hang up the towels"

He looks at you, but you push past him. He wants to hold you carefully, but you pull your arm free.

"Maybe next time you can find yourself a new girl in the pub... one who doesn't act like a slut" you walk out of the door and close it with a loud bang.

Tom closes his eyes and exhales heavily.

He looks through the kitchen window into the small courtyard, you stand with your back to the window. While you hang up the towels, tears run silently down your face.

Tom lights a cigarette. He wants to go out to you. But somehow he doesn't dare. He hangs his head with a sigh. He turns around and leaves the house, he goes to the pub.

A few days have passed and you have managed to avoid Tom. When you were all together at the dinner table in the evening, you were neutral towards him. But as soon as Lois and Douglas retired to their rooms, you went to your room too. You spent the evenings in your room with Lois and you talked a lot.

One afternoon you went out again to do some errands. This time, however, you went shopping in a different shop. But when you leave the shop, there is that guy again. Fear takes hold of you and you can't breathe. You quickly turn away and want to leave. You see that the pub is close and you want to go that way. But before you can reach the pub, he grabs your arm from behind. He turns you towards him and pulls you along with him. The bag with the groceries falls out of your hand. He pushes you into a small alley and you smell him again. The smell of sweat and cigarettes hits your nose again. A feeling of nausea overcomes you.

"Hey beautiful... Well, have you thought about earning money with your mother?" you hear him half whisper.

"Let go of me!" you scream.

"You can't just run off like that!" he grumbles. He continues to pull you along with him. You fight back. You try to tear your arm free. But panic rises in you as you realise it's not having much effect. His hand is tight around your arm. You are afraid.

"Hey! Let go of the girl!" you suddenly hear and as you look over your shoulder you see Tom standing at the end of the alley. You look at him fearfully. He is coming towards you.

"What do you want, boy?" the guy hisses, "Or have you already gone between her thighs? That costs from now on," the guy laughs darkly.

When Tom realises what's going on, he continues running towards you. He suddenly stands at your side and pulls you out of the man's arms. You cling to Tom's arm. You whimper slightly and breathe heavily. But he releases your grip from his arm and pushes you behind him, "I want you to leave my girl alone. Otherwise you'll have something between your thighs, but that won't give you any satisfaction," Tom hisses at him.

Tom faces the guy and doesn't take a step back. The guy just smiles and suddenly takes a swing. But Tom dodges. Tom grabs the guy by the collar and pulls him towards him, he headbutts him and the guy staggers back. His nose is bleeding. The guy now lunges for a punch and Tom's face flies to the side. Tom gets angrier and punches the guy. He lets his fist hit the guy's nose in a harsh collision and the guy goes down. You hear a crack at the moment Tom's fist hits the guy's face. You are afraid that it is Tom's hand. "Tom!" you cry out. But Tom pays no attention to you. He bends over the guy as he lies on the ground, "Leave her alone! Don't ever speak to her again! Or next time I won't let you go!"

The guy crawls backwards away from Tom and stands up. He holds his nose, which is leaking blood. With quick steps he walks away and does not turn around again. You carefully approach Tom, you grab his arm, "Tom..?" you whisper.

He turns around, the anger still visible in his face. But when he sees you, his features immediately become gentle. He looks at you, breathing heavily. He lets his hand wander to your face, "Is everything okay?" he whispers.

You nod, leaning a little into his touch.

"Y/n... I'm so..."

But then you're already kissing him. He didn't expect that. He doesn't react at first, but then kisses you gently back. A few tears run down your face. He interrupts the kiss when he hears you sobbing softly.

"Hey... my love... don't cry," he whispers. You sob again.

"It was him who approached you a few days ago?" he whispers.

You nod, "He wanted me to think about it... Supporting my mother in her work..."

He rests his forehead against yours, "I won't let that happen..." he continues to whisper.

You press your face into his chest and cry softly. He holds you for a moment and caresses you.

"Let's go home, shall we?" he asks you gently. You nod again.

He leads you home. He has his arms around you the whole way, not letting go. When you arrive home, he sits you down on the sofa. You are still sobbing quietly while Tom makes you tea in the kitchen. He comes back to you and puts the tea on the table. You smile slightly.

He sits down with you on the sofa and tries to return your smile.

You see his hand. It looks reddened, almost sore. "Tom...", you gasp.

You take his hand in yours.

"It's nothing, really," he whispers. You stroke his hand gently.

"Y/n... I was an idiot. The guy... and... I was just stupid. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." he says softly.

You look at him.

"It hurt so much... I thought the guy... and you... and then you came home and didn't talk to me..." he plays nervously with his fingers.

You see how difficult it is for him to talk about it. About his feelings. He's not looking at you, he's nervous.

You put your hand on his cheek, "Hey..." you say gently.

His eyes fall on you. He is breathing heavily.

"It's okay..." you whisper, "Just don't.. ever do that again..." Tears well up in your eyes.

He shakes his head, "Never again... I was an idiot"

You have to chuckle slightly, "Yeah... that's true... but you're my idiot"

He smiles shyly and leans forward. His lips slide onto yours and you feel them gently embrace yours.

"And you called me your girl," you whisper against his lips.

Now he chuckles briefly, "Someone has to say it after all," he whispers back.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Tag list

@aemonds-wifey @chainsawsangel @hoshi-miharu-blog @khaothick @yentroucnagol @daydreamy-me @depressedperson88 @iwontshutuptilltheyaddgeckoemoji @greenowlfactif @aemond-targaryenx @bcon24 @jeyramarie @margaglitterdeath @tokipanda @fan-goddess @sarahssm121 @dark-night-sky-99 @blue2023 @arryn-nyx @praline357

#tom bennett #tom bennett x you #tom bennett x y/n #tom bennett imagine #tom bennett fanfiction #tom bennett fanfic #tom bennett smut #tom bennett fluff #world on fire #lois bennett #ewan mitchell #aemond #aemond targaryen #prince aemond targaryen #osferth #tom bennett x reader #baby monk

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killerfrostisme · 2 months

Text

I was quite surprised to see that there weren't many fanfics where Lucy gets her period. It's a normal part of most uterus bearing people's lives, and to be honest I'd like to see it represented in YA books too. It's 2024, let's not act like we don't bleed.

Hence, this is my humble attempt to change that.

This one takes place between TSS and TWS and follows book canon:)

Lucy could always tell when she was about to get her periods. Besides the fact that she always felt like death, she also started to resemble one of the Visitors she and her team desperately tried to snuff out. Rarely could she not predict the time when Auntie Flo would come traipsing into her life. Whenever she saw the telltale signs of a period fast approaching, she'd prepare well. She would pack her kit bag with extra tampons and loads of chocolate. She'd also make sure she'd carry a plethora of painkillers. She almost always got it right.

Almost.

It was a light case and Lockwood and Co was feeling quite relaxed. The owners of the house had informed them of a benign spirit-a probable Type One-whose only job in death was to float on the top of the landing and exude forlorn energy. Upon further research, George uncovered a news article which stated that an old couple had died within a week of each other. The man first, of natural causes and the woman next, of a broken heart. Even though, the spirit was supposedly a Type One, Lockwood had been quite adamant about taking extra iron fillings and even an iron chain, which was typically not required for a Type One case. Lucy had to admit, he'd really stepped up the leadership game after the mishap at Mrs Hope's house.

It was just as well since there wasn't just one ghost but two!

The containment of the sources (a pair of delicate satin slippers for the wife and a pair of silver wire rimmed glasses for the husband) were an easy affair. After dropping George off at Portland Row (he'd had a nasty fall on the stairs in the haunted house and just wanted to sleep the pain away) and with both sources safely ensconced in silver nets, Lucy and Lockwood set off for the furnace.

They sat in a comfortable silence for the entirety of the ride to the furnace. The kind of silence that's brought on by a sense of not knowing each other well enough, but with a desire to change.

Lucy was feeling quite woozy after the case, and chalked it down to just plain fatigue. They had been going on an awful lot of cases after the success of Combe Carey and she hadn't really had enough time to sleep. When they got out of the cab, Lockwood flashed her a tired grin, and she momentarily forgot about her wooziness. Strange. Maybe she's not as tired as she thought.

-------‐‐--‐----------------------------------

"Feeling alright, Luce?" He asked, after handing in the sources. They were standing outside the building, waiting to hail a cab to go home.

"Yes, I think so." she replied, wincing a bit when a sharp shooting pain pierced her lower back. "Why do you ask?" she asked, in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner.

"No particular reason." He responded, keeping his eyes on the road in front of them, searching for an empty cab. "It's just- you've been a bit quiet today. Not to mention, I've seen you wincing here and there. Are you hurt?"

Oh. So he'd caught that. He was a lot more observant than she gave him credit for, she supposed.

"Oh no, I'm fine."

They lapsed into silence yet again. This one seemed more pregnant than the easy one they'd shared in the cab on the way over. Lucy was desperately trying to recall her cycle dates and was drawing a blank. She knew she hadn't packed her period kit with her, and her emergency pad-she mentally berated herself-was safely sitting on her dresser in the attic at Portland Row. She was completely defenseless. Her only option? Freebleed and try not to stain everything under the sun. The silver lining was that at least she was going home.

She fidgeted uncomfortably. When was that damn cab going to arrive? How much longer was she supposed to suffer in agony? Why were women cursed with this abomination every month? Why did men get off scott-free for literally everything in life? Why was the patriarchy-

A delicate cough roused her out of her mental rant. "Is it-is it" Lockwood began, one hand rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "By that I mean, do you-are you-"

"Oh, just spit it out!" she snapped.

Lockwood looked over at her in a mix of shock and surprise, which immediately made her feel guilty. She didn't mean to speak to him in such a belligerent manner, but he was really testing her patience. It was late, she was tired and her hormones weren't being very cooperative.

She tried to tone down her aggravation, (she still seemed to be glowering at him) and spoke- "What were you trying to say, Lockwood?"

He swallowed and continued in a wary manner, as if he were scared of her biting his head off at the next opportunity. "I was just wondering, are you feeling okay?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Is it your time of the month?"

"Just because I'm annoyed that doesn't mean I'm on my period. It could also imply that I'm just in a bad mood or someone has done something to piss me off."

"Okay. Noted."

A pause. And then-

"But, yes. I am on my periods."

"Ah."

Silence.

"My condolences." He cleared his throat, very evidently in the excuse of doing something."Oh look, there's the cab." He said in obvious relief.

‐------------------------------------------

Who the bloody hell says "my condolences" in response to "I've got my period"? Was he absolutely mental? He too had apparently thought it was an incredibly daft thing to say to someone, because he'd kept up an imperceptibly long stream of chatter throughout the cab ride. In the one year that she'd worked at Lockwood and Co, Lucy had never heard him to be as loquacious as he was that night.

What did Lucy think of the company? (it was good) Were she and George getting along? (yes) What were her thoughts on the Kuriashi Turn? (it sucked) Did she think that Karina from Tendy's and Hussain from Bunchurch were shagging? (no comments). He wanted all the answers tonight!

"Ah, we're here." said Lockwood, with an air of forced positivity, as the cab screeched to a halt outside Portland Row.

Lockwood paid the driver and they got out of the car. They shuffled into the house quietly. The air was palpable with tension. The kind of tension brought on by two people who don't know who to bridge the chasm between them.

"Listen Luce," he said, catching her arm and gently pulling her towards him. They had reached the landing outside Lockwood's room. "I'm sorry for acting like a knob. I don't want you to feel as if you can't talk about your periods. I know it's a slightly awkward topic but they're natural. I want you to feel safe enough to talk about whatever you want because this is your house too, Luce."

Lucy gave him a slow, hesitant smile. "It's all right," she reassured him. "I wasn't exactly being very nice either. I'm sorry about that. I'll work on it."

Lockwood smiled at her, and she felt it shoot straight to her heart, warming up her insides and making her forgot all about her menstrual cramps. Of course, it had nothing to do with Lockwood though. Her body was probably happy about being home. Definitely nothing to ponder over later.

"Is there anything I can do?" He said, in an earnest manner.

"Yes," she said, surprising them both. "You can tell me more about Hussain and Karina's supposed antics over a cup of hot cocoa."

"Deal," laughed Lockwood, "there's much to share with regards to that particular subject."

------------‐---------------------------------------------------‐---------------

They stayed down in the library chatting for ages. Lucy had changed into clean clothes, worn a tampon and downed a painkiller with her cocoa, but what really made her feel better was laughing with Lockwood. He made her happy. And George, of course. And her job. And Portland Row. And London.

Lucy smiled. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to dwell on it much. For now, she was just going to take comfort in his company. For now, she was just going to chuckle at Barnes' love life with a floppy haired boy. For now, that was enough.

This was supposed to be a funny, slightly awkward story. But somehow, it turned into one laced with poignancy. Especially towards the end. It just sort of ran away from me and took shape on its own.

Anyway, hope you guys liked it! Let me know if you guys did:)

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jaylienpotter · 7 months

Text

October 6th @prongsfoot-microfic prompt "blow" (I'm v late ik, I'm sorry)

Birthday

James sat at his desk studying - or trying to. He was in his last year at Loughborough University, studying sport science. Besides wanting be a professional athlete, he also decided on helping those in that area. He could be a sports psychologist, since he always had a passion for helping, or a coach. He had options and time. He just needed to focus.

His phone rang. 'Sirius' - scratch that plan.

They exchanged numbers after Black finished the commission of drawing Potter's dog, Padfoot. It was on the owner's phone screen. To his delight, Pads was also inspiration for a small ceramic sculpture, 'consider this extra as a thank you for your family's pottery lessons', Sirius had said.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Sirius."

"I know, I have your contact saved. And there aren't many Siriuses, I reckon." His smile was probably audible. The other boy had the same type of humour, which was comforting.

"I'm special like that. So uhm... My birthday's next week's Friday. I don't normally celebrate it but my friend Marlene insisted on doing something since we don't see each other much ever since I moved here. We're going to a bar, just us, her girlfriend and my ex."

"Your ex?" Perhaps he still had feelings for them? I mean, wasn't it awkward to be around an ex?

"Yeah, he's my best friend. Even after the breakup." He. If it hadn't been clear already, this was the confirmation that the hottest man James had ever met was, in fact, not straight.

"Oh, that's nice."

"So... Would you like to come? You don't have to, I understand that we haven't met long ago and you don't know my friends..."

"I'd love to!" Maybe he answered a tad too fast. But Black didn't seem to mind.

"Wicked! It's at The Bell Foundry. How does 8 PM sound?"

"Perfect!"

"Brill. A'ight, see ya then, mate. Oh, and don't get me anything." He definitely would.

"Bye, cheers."

Potter got there 15 minutes earlier. He was used to arriving first. When the birthday boy arrived, the tanned one blushed, heart skipping a beat. Fuck, he's bloody hot.

Glittery sheer crop top, his pierced nipples and chest tattoo visible, ripped black jeans with fishnets underneath, a buckled belt and chains, high heeled platform black boots, a choker that James wanted to pull, several silver necklaces and rings, and a glittery black smokey eye makeup with star rhinestones on the inner corners. His sharp features were even more noticeable with his hair in a messy bun.

"Like what you see?"

"Uh- I-" He composed himself and cleared his throat "Happy birthday!" The other man snorted but didn't press on the matter.

"Thank you. And thanks for coming."

"Thanks for the invitation. I know you told me not to but... I was never good with following orders." It was half true. He obeyed those he looked up to, like his parents and coach. Other than that? Mischief maker that looked too innocent for his own good.

He extended a black tote bag with a ribbon. "You really didn't need to-"

"I wanted to. Go on, open." Pale hands opened the bag, a bit confused. "It's empty?" To further confuse him, Jamie grinned.

"Oh silly me! It's backwards!" He exclaimed theatrically, took the bag and turned it inside out, revealing a Guns 'N' Roses logo. "There you go!"

"Bloody hell, this is great! You like them too??"

"Haven't heard much, to be honest. But you were wearing a graphic shirt the day we met and you have a quote of them on your Instagram so I figured you were a fan."

"That's actually so thoughtful, thanks." Good, he doesn't see it as creepy. You can relax now.

They hugged and pulled away after a whistle caught Sirius's attention.

"Happy birthday Starlight!"

"Moony!" He ran and hugged who Potter presumed was the ex. He was a tad intimidating. Very tall, neutral expression that could hide so much emotion, some few scars that indicated fights... Yet he was strangely attractive. He could see the appeal.

The brown haired lad hugged back, patting his friend's head. Potter couldn't help but feel jealous.

"Meet my new friend James! James, this is Remus."

"Hi, nice to meet you." Was the waving awkward?

"Likewise. Yer here early. I usually have to wait for ye." He had turned to his ex and swiftly put a cigarette between his chapped lips.

"Yeah, wanted to be with James before anyone else got here so he wouldn't be alone." Potter wasn't blushing. He wasn't. He was.

"Oh, thanks. That's nice of you."

"I'm always nice." The snicker coming from the tallest lad indicated otherwise. And from the little James already knew about Black, he was definitely very cheeky. "We should probably head inside. We'll catch a cold if we wait for Marlene."

"I dunno how ye two manage to be late everywhere. If ya weren't both gay, ya'd be a perfect match. Ye two go ahead, imma finish my smoke."

It had taken another half an hour before the last two members of the party arrived together. The mentioned Marlene was a short bubbly non-binary Filipino who was unapologetically loud. Their girlfriend Dorcas was more collected yet sociable. Her very dark skin looked amazing with the bright colours of her outfit.

Potter's nervousness eased after a while. They hit it all off well, albeit being ever so slightly jealous of 'Moony'.

"So what's the deal between ye two?" They both looked over to where the birthday boy was moving his hips to the music, next to a box dyed blonde head.

"Oh, we're just friends." Sadly. The tallest probably read his mind, giving him an unreadable look.

"I reckon he fancies ye. I recognise those eyes. Don't know ye but I'd say y'also do."

Saved by the bell, or rather, by the cake. "Happy birthday to you..." Dorcas had a cake in her hands, placing it next to James. Marlene was pulling their friend through the crowd.

"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday dear Sirius..." All four were singing, some clubbers and bartenders joined, others didn't bother. Black seemed to love the attention he was getting.

"Happy birthday to you!" The grin. The eye twinkle that matched the top. He ought to celebrate his anniversary from now on.

"Make a wish!" Silver eyes shut as if concentrating very hard and the candles were blown. People cheered and went back to their lives.

"Thank you all for this. Really. Did you make it, Dorcas?"

"Yes I did. My famous chocolate fudge."

"You're amazing. A'ight, let's cut it before Moony starts drooling." They all laughed.

The cake was top tier. The music had been great. The environment was friendly and so were the people. All in all it was a very fun night, one like James hadn't had in a long time.

#marauders #marauders era #marauders fandom #the marauders #harry potter marauders #dead gay wizards #james potter #sirius black #prongsfoot microfic #prongsfoot #romantic prongsfoot #bambibelle #marauders starbucks #starbucks ship #Sry for the extreme delay #It's been sitting in my drafts for nearly a week #I intend on writing some more prompts from prev days

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feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps · 6 months

Text

A LITTLE TOWN CALLED HAWKINS.

Word count 1,800

You were dreading the day you had to move in with your aunt Claudia and cousin Dustin. You hadn't actually seen Dustin since he was about 4 years old, now he was a freshman in high school. You had to pack up your life and move to a whole other state since your mother and father decided that they were moving to Europe and you didn't want to go with them and you couldn't afford a place of your own just yet, then came the brilliant idea of moving in with your aunt until you get enough funds to pay your own way.

You packed up the last of your things in your dodge charger, you mainly only took your clothes and your vinyls. You hugged your parents goodbye and set off to do the 9 hour journey.

Meanwhile in Hawkins, Dustin has not shut up about you coming to live with them, everyone has been hearing about you for about a week now. The whole gang are sat in the Henderson's basement watching a movie to pass the time. Dustin turns towards Steve and smiles "she should be on the road now!" Steve slowly looks towards Dustin "I know, you told me about 20 minutes ago." Steve replies with a sarcastic smile. Dustin rolls his eyes and turns back to the TV and continues watching the movie. By the time you arrive in Hawkins it was 9pm, Dustin greets you at the door.

"Hi Y/N!" Dustin says slightly too loudly for 9pm.

You smile and set you bag down on the front porch "Hey Dusty, long time no see" you hold your arms out for a hug which Dustin jumps at. You give him an extra squeeze and look over his shoulder were Claudia has moved into the hallway "Hi Aunt Claudia" you smile and wave.

"Hi darling" she says with a smile "Dustin why don't you show Y/N her room?"

Dustin turns and starts making his way to your new room with you following him. As you walk in, Dustin stays stood at the doorway "I'll let you get settled in Y/N" he smiles and closes the door. You set your suitcase on the bed and let out a really deep breath and tilt your head back with your eyes closed. You slowly start to unpack some of your essential clothes, and pick out the teddy bear that your mom got you when you were a toddler and place it on your new pillow.

The weeks pass by and you end up getting a job in a small bakery in town. You have met the rest of the gang, but haven't spent much time with them. One afternoon, you are stood behind the counter at your job, it has been a very slow day, you don't remember a time that you have felt this bored. You have also been flicking a piece of scrunched up napkin about on the counter top when you hear the bell above the door chime. You glance up and notice the curly mop of hair under the baseball cap of your younger cousin.

"Hey Dusty," you straighten up and smile "what can I get for you today?" You look over to the glass display case. Dustin follows you gaze and puts a finger on his chin as he hums in thought. As he is about to answer, the bell chimes again and you look over to the door to see most of the gang walking in "Dustin, did you leave everyone behind to get in here first?" You laugh.

Dustin glances at you and smirks "well I wanted first pick and they were taking too long" You laugh and lean over the counter and knock his cap down a little.

"Such a little shit" you mumble to Dustin. "Hi everyone" you address everyone else. Mike, Lucas and Max lift their hands in greeting. Eddie smiles and salutes you. Steve smiles a little "Hi Y/N" he is stood at the back of the group so you barely hear him.

Everyone asked for a pastry or cake of some kind and you place each one on a plate for them. You punch the price into the cash register "so that will be..... 7.75" you look at Dustin and hold your hand out and smile.

"So Y/N, I dont actually have any money" Dustin says as he takes a massive bite out of the brownie he ordered. Eddie reaches his hand over Dustin's head and holds out two 5 dollar notes. You reach up and smile at him "Thank you" you then pop open the cash register and get the change out. You hand it back to eddie who automatically puts it in your tip jar, you catch his eye and he sends you a small wink with a smile. You smile and look down at your hands briefly. "Enjoy your treats guys" you look at Dustin "see you at home Dusty" you knock his cap off and giggle.

"Yeah yeah see you at home" Dustin rolls his eyes and picks his cap up and puts it back on, while he holds his brownie in his mouth. As they are leaving, Dustin leans back through the open door "Y/N, we are having our movie night at our house tonight. You can join if you want."

"Sorry Dust, I can't tonight. I have a date" you say with a frown "maybe I can come to the next one?"

Dustin looks down at his feet "oh, yeah sure!" He then leaves and runs to catch up with the group. You let out a sigh and grab the cloth to start wiping down the counters.

Later that evening, you are in your bedroom getting ready for your date. You can hear everyone starting to arrive. You swipe the last layer of gloss over your lips and smack them together. You pick up your bag and head downstairs. You make your way over to the door and pick up your keys “okay Dustin. I'm going now. I'll be back later” you shout into the living room where everyone was getting ready to watch the first movie. Dustin looks up and furrows his brows when he notices your keys in your hand.

“You're driving yourself there?” He questions.

You look down at your keys and then back up in confusion “yeah… why?” You drag out.

Dustin rolls his eyes “because that's a shitty date. He should have picked you up to take you to wherever you are going.” Once he says this, Steve, Eddie and Robin turn their heads to you. They take notice of the short dress you are wearing and how it hugs you in all the right places and the plunging neckline. Steve's eyes widen ever so slightly and he averts his gaze to the door behind you. Eddie swallows harshly and sneakily looks you up and down. Robin waves at you and smiles “he is right Y/N. Your date should have picked you up at least” Robin says with a pointed look in her eyes.

You roll your eyes and take a deep breath “I didn't want him to pick me up, okay? I just wanted to drive myself because I just have a feeling that this date is going to be a shitty one.” You slightly mumble and look at Dustin “so I'm going now. If you make a mess, clean it up. Bye” you lift your hand in a semi wave and open the front door.

Your date goes relatively well, he was some guy that came into the bakery most mornings. His name was Brandon and he works in the office buildings. You tried your hardest to stay interested in his conversations all evening but after a while talking about his love of golf and how his dad owns 2 boats gets a bit boring. You take a sip of your water and smile at him “I'm really sorry to do this, but I have to go because my little cousin is at home and I need to get back to him” you lie a little. You get your purse out and offer him your half of the bill. He looks at the money and then at you “Don't offend me like that. I have to pay.” He takes out his credit card and places it on the table.

You look down at your bag and roll your eyes. Men and their old fashioned ways. You think to yourself. You finish your water and place your napkin on the table. “Thanks again for the nice evening.” You smile at him and stand up.

He looks up at you “I'll call you?” He says it in almost a questioning way and you just nod at him. As you walk out of the restaurant you make a mental note to tell Dustin to tell him that you aren't in if he answers that phone call.

You drive back to your house, you have your music loud and just trying to cheer yourself up after your shitty date. You pull into your driveway and can see the light from the TV still on in the living room. You walk up to the front door and unlock it. When you step inside, that everyone is completely paying attention to the horror movie that is playing and didn't even notice you coming in. You instantly recognise it as one of your favourite movies: Halloween. You sneak up behind Dustin and lean over the sofa and say in his ear at the same time the character on screen does “But you can't kill the boogeyman!”. Dustin screams and jumps up onto his feet and turns to face you. You laugh and grip onto the sofa. Dustin has a hand on his chest and is breathing heavily.

“I hate you. I hate you.” He chants breathily. You keep giggling to yourself as you make your way into the kitchen. As you are getting yourself a glass of water, Eddie walks in and smiles “didn't take you for a horror fan”. You turn around and smile at him “I'm a person of many surprises” you say with a smirk. Eddie steps towards you and you have to tilt your head back a little to keep eye contact. When he gets almost toe to toe with you he leans down slightly. “Maybe I could see some of those surprises?” He whispers and places a hand on your waist. Your smile grows wider and you slowly nod. Eddie is about to place his lips on yours as you hear “Eddie, come on man. How long does it take to get some water?” You sigh lightly and Eddie squeezes your side.

“Maybe later sweetheart” he says and then kisses your cheek. You watch him go into the living room again and then make your way upstairs to have a shower and get ready for bed.

Maybe you will grow to really like Hawkins after all..

TAGS:-

@capitanostella

Please let me know if you enjoyed this. :)

#fluff #eddie munson x reader #joseph quinn x reader #stranger things fic #steve harrington x reader #stranger things #new fic

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baileys-3 · 5 months

Text

NEW CHAPTER ONLINE on AO3 - Chapter 12

Sneak Peak under the Link

Yesterday evening they had planned to go on a medium-difficulty hike together, which usually takes three and a half hours. But with Kojo it will certainly take much longer, as the dog likes to take his time and insist on taking breaks. The tour is a circular route that Lucy found in one of her apps. Can you imagine that? There are apps for everything these days even for hiking tours. It took Lucy about two minutes to convince him that he too really needs an app like this. She had listed all the advantages of it f or him, some of which were really ridiculous. He had then pressed his phone into her hand and mumbled that she should just download it for him before he had to endure another long lecture.

Lucy hadn't missed the opportunity to send him the tour via a message link. This is why he ended up using the morning hours to click on the link and take a look at the trail and the corresponding photos. As he was someone who always woke up early, he had some extra time to play around with the app. Lucy had explained to him in detail that she did not want to be disturbed by her alarm clock on her day off just because he was an early riser and could not enjoy sleeping it. She definitely won't be leaving her apartment before 10 o'clock. After all, they had the whole day and didn't have to be home by lunchtime.

He has been sitting on his couch since 8:30 PM, scrolling through pictures of the hiking route. He admits that the pictures only increase his excitement, rather than dampening it.

The tour is a circular route that starts at Mulholland Dam. It leads along Lake Hollywood for a considerable distance (about 1.2 miles) before the ascent begins. The climb is long but not too strenuous. At the end, they will reach the so-called Wisdom Tree, which, according to the route planner, is a magical place. Especially at sunset. Well, that won't be the case today, because they will arrive there well before that. Then it's another 0.3 miles or so uphill before they reach the highest point. The Cahuenga Peak. This location is situated west of the famous Hollywood sign and is said to offer a breathtaking view of Los Angeles, according to the reviews.

It's a smooth descent except for a short stretch on a rocky dirt track, which is still quite manageable, but still offers a good view. After about 5.5 miles from the start, the trail leads to Lake Hollywood Park which has plenty of picnic tables. Lucy had offered to take care of the food since they plan on eating there upon arrival. After that, it is just about a mile to the car park. The final part of the route goes downhill towards the lake and then curves back along it.

Tim looks through his backpack again and checks that he has packed everything. His job is to take care of hydration with water bottles and bowls for Kojo. The route also has the advantage that it passes several water refill stations. He has also packed a blanket in case they decide to make a spontaneous stop and want to sit down. Which is very likely with Kojo. Other than that, he makes sure to pack some snacks for the dog in his bag.

He is tired of waiting any longer, so he ends up leaving his house too early, which will result in arriving too early at her place. He is counting down the minutes to finally see Lucy again. That's how things are with him now.

When Tim has parked his car near the building complex where Lucy lives, he briefly considers whether to leave Kojo in the car or take him with him. He decides in favor of the latter, as Lucy is certainly not ready yet and Kojo would then have to wait forever in the car. Besides, Tamara is not at home, so he can turn up at Lucy's front door with Kojo without any problems.

After a short while, he reaches Lucy's house and knocks on the door. She responds with "The door is open." When he opens it, Kojo rushes in without giving him a chance to stop him. It seems like Kojo is in a hurry to get to Lucy, and he can't blame him for that. He closes the door behind him.

"Why don't you lock your door? Anyone could just march in. That's completely unacceptable."

Her voice comes from one of the rooms. He thinks from her bathroom.

"I only unlocked the door a few minutes ago because I thought you'd be early ..." With that, the bathroom door opens, and Lucy steps into her living room, putting an earring through her ear at the same time. "... and I would probably be in the bathroom or something, unable to let you in. “And ..." she looks up at him, smirking after she has successfully secured her earring. "... clearly I was right."

#archive of our own #chenford #chenford fanfic #lucy chen #the rookie #tim bradford x lucy chen #tim bradford #chenford fic #tim x lucy #chenfordsource

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enigmawriteswhump · 3 months

Text

The Last Librarian

Part 1

💠 Part 2

______________

It was easy to fall into the rhythm.

Secretary work was mind-numbingly boring, and paid less than was appreciated. But, the main reason why I kept going was that I needed to survive.

I needed to survive, so I could live.

The lady I worked for ran a small shop named Stone Spirits, a little upstart company. They were backing off the new, trending holistic measures that the last few years had set spinning into motion. To be fair, it meant I was able to add more gems to my ongoing collection, and get free tarot readings once a month. Clara was nice once you got to know her. I mean, once you looked past the three piercings hanging from her nose, and the streaks of neon in her hair. It was enough to ward anyone straight-laced far, far away.

Sometimes I thought she was Fae from the way she practically floated on air with "nature's healing grace", as she called it. I also wondered how many zapain she was on per day to keep her so calm while running a company.

I'm able to handle spreadsheets, orders, but it wasn't what I really saw myself doing for too much longer. I'd wanted to go into maybe geology, or maybe just art, or maybe something in between.

Life falls apart sometimes, and puts you back together in all the wrong places. I'm still trying to rearrange things.

Finally, the clock hits five, and I am able to lean away from my laptop. My fingers reach towards my head, and gently rub my sinuses. I was going to sue Clara for making me work and enticing me with free stones. I swear, I never had so many headaches before I started this job.

I wearily raise my head, eyes alighting on the time.

Shit! I have to let Lucas in!

Scrambling back, I chuck my woolen poncho on, tuck a scarf around my neck and snatch up my bag.

With hurried steps, the bell echoed shrilly as the door swung shut behind me.

***

My breath is still shuddering as I collapse into the chair, the fifteen minute walk before he arrived had me rushing. I wasn't usually so easily lost in thought, life kept me busy enough. But in the last year, I'd started an extra volunteering session in the library for children who had parents working in the district. They needed a place to go before their parents arrived from work.

I'd actually worked in this library before, and it had been a nice, little part time job for me as a teen', but the place had since... Deteriorated. Staff kept disappearing, and it was on a "volunteer only" principle. The local council now refused to pay the librarians. Budget cuts.

Sadness didn't begin to cover my feelings, to see another piece of life twisted around in some strange parody. Air now smells stale, instead of comforting and musty. The carpet had picked up dirt from a thousand people more. It looked all the worse for it.

The scanners had broken and been replaced, seeming more and more alien against the decrepit library. Even the computers had grime that ran so deep into the keyboards I'm surprised they hadn't jammed.

I'd done my best on my evenings here to tidy it up as much as I could. To coax some love back into it. Trying to hoover the floor, without much success. Rebacking the children's display with newer books. Books I'm sure wouldn't have been brought in yet without my interference... I had to stop myself from buying new sets of books from charity shops for the library. Even while I wanted to help, I didn't get paid for it. My rent had more control on me than books could. My hand could only forlornly rest on my purse.

But at least one child didn't mind how horrid the library was. To him, it was a small space of heaven.

He was my only kid who came on Wednesdays. His mother worked across the street in the cafe and finished at six thirty. While she was a woman with a drawn face and a closed heart, I knew she appreciated having someone help her look after her child.

I almost found a mother in her.

***

Today it's Horrid Henry, but I'm hoping I'll be able to guide him to a fantasy series next. At least then I could have a deeper conversation than "What did Henry do this time?".

Fondly, I look over to the boy swinging his legs as he reads. Two shoes with hastily undone laces swung back and forth like a metronome.

It calmed me, having company here. It felt as if my purpose was clear for an hour - to observe, to protect, to laugh. To bring a little boy some joy.

I settled by my desk that I kept near his favourite chair, so that when he giggled, he didn't have to shout to where my desk was to tell me the line.

It helped me to focus really, to sign out the occasional book on the online form and, on occasion, taking a chance to add to my journal.

The library wasn't... Busy. Most children had their ipads and Netflix to keep them entertained nowadays. It made me almost nostalgic for the summers a decade ago. When the fountains outside worked, and the library was smothered with children all signing up to the Summer Read-athon. How they fizzed across the room with a book in each hand. Mothers chatting without discretion even though it was a library. Children's groups which ran across the holidays. The tinkle of the local ice cream truck chuntering along outside. Each moment rounding up more stray children with its corny and tinny tune. The smell of crisps and sticky fingers.

The amount of life this place once had. The big corporations which had stamped out any homely, local businesses which had made the air that much sweeter. Yet now the clinical, conventional coffeehouse glared at us from across the street.

I still missed the freshly baked patisseries. The welcoming smile of my usual barista. Her smile had been so beautiful.

It was the clicking of heels muffling against carpet however, which snatched me from my haze of journaling.

"Miranda," I greeted, closing my laptop and grinning when Lucas leapt off the sofa.

"They showed us the space landing today! And I made a collage of the planets. It's in my bag." Lucas tilted his head adoringly, "Is Dad coming home soon? Is he still calling tonight?"

Miranda smiled weakly, as if tired from Lucas' constant energy. To be fair, Lucas never stopped being in motion. I imagine it's hard being the focus of all that buzzing energy.

"Wonderful, you'll have to show me your collage when we get home. Dad is still hoping to call, but we can't assume he'll get through. You know the connection can be patchy." she brushed his forehead with the back of her hand, and added wearily, "Tie your shoes up. You already tripped this morning for not doing them."

I laugh, moving from sitting to leaning against the chair. I watched his tongue poke from his mouth as he fiddled with his laces.

"I think it's the sensation of the tightness that he struggles with."

Miranda glances upwards with a slight downturn of her mouth.

"I don't know. He's so hard to buy for. He never wants to wear his shoes. I thought laces would be better since he can then tighten them to his liking." she sighed, a tired lock of hair falling against the curve of her cheek, "But he doesn't like a lot of things, so it's not new. Come on Lucas, Mummy has to go home and have a shower."

With a last harrumph, Lucas finishes tying his laces and gently lifts his book, a small pout on his lips.

"I don't want it anymore."

I step in, laughing, before his mother could retort, "Hey, didn't I talk to you about the book series with the Dragon's Son? Do you want to grab it to take home? I'll sign it out for you and upload it to your account."

Lucas brightened eagerly, "Yeah! I want that one."

"Well that's very doable. Let's go get it then. Remember where I put it on the reserved shelf?"

"Yeppers!"

Lucas placed the book into his bag, a small grin on his lips, "Can I come here next week too?"

I incline my head, "I'll be here, as usual."

Miranda stepped forward, the bags under her eyes would have concerned me enough to ask. But the short, hurried answer I've become used to dissuades me. The words "I'm fine." is her most common lie.

I wish I could tell her that the smell of fish down the road was the best chippy, and that if you ordered haddock instead of cod, the batter was better. That if she wanted, I could walk Lucas home, take him to the park he'd never see. To fill his soul with the love I couldn't bare bestow to anyone else.

"Thanks for tonight. I -" she bit her lip, "I don't know if you wanted to come for dinner one night this week. I've wanted to thank you for taking care of my son," there was a rare glimpse of a smile, "I want to show my appreciation in person. Lucas would like it too."

Lucas looks at me, big doe eyes wide, and my heart folds.

"I would be honoured." my lips move, and I can't take it back. It would be better for me not to know their life. It meant I wouldn't be disappointed with what I saw. But Lucas... Little, loving Lucas... I couldn't bear to leave that unspoken question in his eyes unanswered.

I'm doomed.

"Great!" Miranda practically chirped, her ebony hair giving a lifeless bounce, "I'll send you the address, and I was thinking Thursday evening. Pop by from five thirty onwards."

Dread sinks in me as they walk away, a pair of arms that never released from my heart.

To be a part of their life for one evening was more than I could have asked for. And more than I deserved.

***

Afterword:

Okay! I've now written my first part of an ongoing modern AU in @oliversrarebooks 's Bookseller series!! I am so excited to introduce to another character next time, and to get this going! EEE! I am absolutely so inspired by @oliversrarebooks and @whumpsoda' s work. I feel like a small child offering their pasta rocket ship to qualified NASA scientists.

I've been hiding for a long time because of burnout. And seeing this universe grow is so exciting! I do not own any of the concepts in this universe either!

And finally, thank you for reading... I appreciate it!

#Whump #Bookseller AU #Modern AU #Vampire Whump #Female whumpee #Fantasy whump #Urban whump #whump writing #whump community #Enigma writes whump #whump scenario #The Last Librarian #the last librarian

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