Tumgik
#this actually went a lot smoother than on my first run on hard
sieglinde-freud · 1 year
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CHAPTER 11 MADDENING CLEARED GAMES OVER I CAN REST
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trashexplorer · 1 year
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BLCD Review: Unmei no Tsugai ga Omae da Nante
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Title: Unmei no Tsugai ga Omae da Nante (運命の番がお前だなんて)
Author/Artist: Haruta
Release Date: 2021/06/25
Cast: 
Okitsu Kazuyuki x Masuda Toshiki
Taito Ban
Tsuchida Reiou
Kobayashi Kousuke
Matsuura Yoshiyuki
Tanaka Tomomi
Watanabe Yoshimi
Synopsis: Free-spirited omega Shishikura and straight-laced alpha Kotani have disliked each other since middle school, so neither are pleased to learn they will both be working at the same company. Shishikura is even less thrilled when he discovers that he and Kotani are a fated pair! The two men take verbal swipes at each other every chance they get, yet still wind up in bed together again and again. Both chalk it up to biology and refuse to admit that deeper feelings might be involved, and Shishikura begins looking into other potential marriage partners. Will this tsundere couple ever get their act together, or will destiny be derailed by their own stubbornness?
Review Proper
Finally, the thing I mistook for Yukyuu Omega is here. *exhale*
If y’all know me, you’ll know that I absolutely abhor omegaverse (you can thank Kurui Naku Ban Beta, Sayonara Alpha, and Erito for that). Literally everything you could do in an abo has already been done. I don’t see a point in making more of these. Mangakas: Okay, let’s do domsub instead But hey, am I not a Okitsu whore? No. Anyway, even though I was excited about listening to this, I knew I was going to hate Kotani because he was an asshole. 
There’s only one thing worse than an abo.
AN ABO WITH AN ASSHOLE CHARACTER.
But, in spite of myself, I actually enjoyed this. 
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I’m having a moral crisis, help.
JK. Unmei no Tsugai doesn’t sell itself as a serious plot, so it shouldn’t be taken seriously either. Unlike our deep try-hards. I mean, it’s your pretty run-of-the-mill dumbass gets an excuse to fuck the asshole, falls in love with him, the asshole becomes more of an asshole, the dumbass drags a third party to make him jealous, the asshole becomes more of an asshole, poor third party gets led on and dumped, and the dumbass and asshole finally gets together without the asshole even apologizing, medetashi, medetashi. But the way that Haruta wrote and movic set it all up was fantastic. 
Now this is how you do comedy. I initially had some doubts ‘cause the narration in the first track was kind of strange lmao. It went from medieval style to traditional Japanese and it was narrated by someone who sounded like a news broadcaster wth. Is this a densetsu??? The CD later turned out to be a whole vocal flex for Massuu and Okitsu ‘cause goddamn. 
Massuu, for starters, used a tone slightly above his Hirokuni but slightly smoother. I haven’t read the manga before, so I wasn’t sure how things were going to go, so I was very surprised that he pulled his shounen (aka his Kirishima) voice later! I loved it. His changes were dynamic, chaotic, and very fitting for Shishikura. AND! AND! JESUS CHRIST HIS SEXAY MONOLOGUES!!! HELLO??? WAS HE PAID EXTRA??? Y’ALL GOTTA HEAR ALL THE BEDROOM SUBJUGATIONS!!! I didn’t know he had that in him tbh. I was just blown away. He has never bottomed this chaotically before, if I recall correctly. It’s evident that he had a lot of fun recording this (as did Okitsu as per the cast talk) and I love that! It makes me wish this had a second volume so we could hear more of this kind of Massuu.
Onto Okitsu,
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Y’all already know what I’m gonna say. 
Is my bias over Okitsu making me like this? Who knows? But it’s undeniable that my man has, once again, slayed this role. I won’t talk about his perfect performance much ‘cause I’ve already run out of praises years ago, so just know that if you’re not an Okitsu bitch by now, you’re really missing out lmao.
ALSO
I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT WE’VE WITNESSED OKITSU PLAY TWO BETAS, A PRETEND OMEGA, AND NOW FINALLY AN ALPHA!!! We don’t count the disrespect that was Shounen no Kyoukai
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-Chesk, 25, hates abos but will listen if Okitsu’s in it
Anywho, these two also had great chemistry with each other. They’re more or less in sync during their mattress mambos, so I really wasn’t spazzing out during Smoky Nectar. I was thinking maybe I was asking for too much. 😂 Idk what to feel, knowing that this is Fatgum x Kirishima
In conclusion, get this. Get this if you’re a fan of the series and abo in general. And if you dislike abo like me, this still is worth getting if you’re an Okitsu/Massuu stan. If you want to see just what makes voice actors good, you’ll be in the right place. As for those who want to read the manga along with the BLCD, it is doable, but bear in mind that there is added and cut dialogue. I only have the magazine releases, and I’ve noticed that the narrations are rearranged, so do try buying the tank if you can (reading the Chrima release with it is doable too tho). Gosh, I really wish this wasn’t an abo lmao. Anyway, I’m afraid there aren’t a lot of gag abos like this out there, so I wouldn’t be able to recommend anything similar. Go Kashikomarimashita: Destiny and Re:birth for more Okitsu tho
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fallenraffe · 5 months
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Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe
<b>3.5 stars</b>
Keane was textbook definition himbo and I ate him uppp
his bromance with Z was adorbs and his dynamic with Maddie was great too
Maddie was fun too <s>ya know, long as she wasn't talking to a guy she was attracted to lmao</s>
M+K start off on the wrong foot, but then warm up to each other rather quickly and I loved their dynamic, they were giving best buds/BFF vibes v similar to what K had going with Z (and the boys have known each other since like 5th grade or sth) (and tbf the boys said they would've wifed each other up already if their tastes run that way, so that's not such a bad thing as far as K+M are concerned, but!)
my main issue with the book was the transition from friends to something sexy/romantic. they started on the smexy part around 70% and they story really lost me a bit there, as much fun as their rs was up to that point, there was just too much of:
1. you are objectively attractive, I'm just not attracted to you
2. friend zoning and even worse sister zoning, there was entirely too much of that going on and even if towards the end the honorary lil sis felt a bit forced, it was still not it
3. K's insistence that he was only attracted to M cos she was off limits and he could never resist that forbidden cookie
all of the above just made it really hard for me to get on board when things took a turn towards the sexy/romantic for these two, not really helped by the fact that they have known each other for all of 2 days (no, really about 50% the book takes place during their road trip, which is a grant total of 2 days, cos they roll into la on the 3rd) and then another week where they do the fwb thing until it blows up in their faces.
by the end I was back on board with the K+M ship in a romantic way, but that transition from <i>friends to fwb to business partners to lovers</i> was painful, and almost lost me and it really could've gone <i>so much smoother</i>, if only the author dialed back a bit on the aforementioned stuff.
also the ending, while sweet, felt a bit <i>too abrupt</i>? I was at least hoping for an epilogue. Captain had one and we know from that that K+M got engaged, (and from my neighbor's secret I know K made it big as a movie star + M was pregnant with their kid) but it would've been great to actually see some of that? I mean hell, he was an aspiring actor and she a film maker, we could've gotten an Oscar's where they sweep in big in awards, maybe even with their stripper movie or sth and I would've been happy. so yeah I was missing that epilogue and glimpse into their future.
PS.: there was also less amount of sex in this than one would probably expect from a stripper book? like cap and trod went at it a lot more than k+m did, things really only got going from around 70% of the book and I actually really appreciated that. much as I loved Ryan and Tessa they had <i>a lot of sex</i> and it was nice to see K+M build up an actual rs first, so definitely a pleasant surprise
PPS.: before K+M meet there's a scene where K fucks a milf at the produce section to akon. it's not very detailed at all it's just a quick chapter, basically showing that's how his Monday went and why he ignored yet another call from Maddie or Dean or whoever. it really wasn't a big deal and it didn't bother me, but just putting it out there
(Audiobook on 2x
narrators were 👍🏻)
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willsimos · 1 year
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ePortfolio
Will Simos
Week 2- ‘Starting Out’
Looking back on my first week, it is fair to say that I had an array of emotions within those first 3 days. Whether it was excitement, nervousness, stress or any other emotion that came up, I didn’t let it affect my determination for my study. When I woke up that Monday morning, the trip to Holmesglen felt like an eternity. I can't tell if the bus driver was intentionally driving slow, or if it was the suspense that was slowing down time. When I arrived, I was greeted by some familiar faces I met during O-Week, so it wasn't like I was a complete stranger to the classroom. The classes during the week felt slow, due to the fact that they were all introductory classes, and looking at slideshows for multiple 3 hour periods almost made me reconsider my enrollment. Of course, I knew this would be one of the early speed bumps in my new academic journey. I am looking forward to learning about the different aspects of media, in sports specifically, and am excited to see where this new-found knowledge and information can take me in the future. Week 1 was and all it’s introductions was fun, but now it’s time to focus on week 2 and the following weeks. 
Week 5- ‘Teamwork’
First group project I was a part of here at T.A.F.E, and I have to admit it went a lot smoother and easier then I imagined. There were a lot less group projects in high school, as most assessments were test-based and less project-like. In my personal opinion, I believe my group worked well. There were no issues, everyone had a clear understanding of who was doing what, the communication was valid, and everyone was on board with any idea or suggestions that came up. I feel that I put in a solid effort on my half, not just with the work put into the project, but also on the communication end and teamwork side of things. Considering there weren't too many group projects in my previous schooling, I felt confident going into this assessment that I would be able to do my part that met my group members' standards, and in which I can say they more than met mine. Our actual presentation wasn't too bad, our transitions from one speaker to another were pretty clean, although it was hard to tell if our audience was engaged or not, as we were the final presentation and I assume everyone's attention span may have run out. One thing I could've done better is ask for my group's opinion on my half of the work, as I didnt get their opinion until the day of the presentation, so asking earlier could have supplied me with some feedback and edits I could've made. The same goes for my group as well, we never got a chance to review each other's information we were going to present, only briefly. Looking at my peer feedback, the things that stood out to me the most were eye contact, saying how it wasnt non-existent, but it could be worked on, and to not focus so much on the script I was reading off. Overall, I believe that for a first group project, it was pretty decent, we communicated well, our information was valid, same with our final presentation. It was a good experience to learn off for future group assessments. 
Week 7- ‘Self-Management: Motivation and Resilience’
Coming into uni, I thought I would have to dedicate all my time and effort into my schooling. Trying to balance it out along with basketball, work and social life, I had the worry that maybe I would have to sacrifice one of these components of my life. As the weeks went on, I realised that I have more time in the day than I thought, and could balance out all these commitments. School is only 3 days a week for a couple hours each respective day, Basketball is 4 nights a week which is hard to work around, and work is casual so working out the social life was the hardest part. Being freshly 18, I take every opportunity I can get when offered to go out to social events, such as parties, birthdays, etc. The way I plan out my weeks is by dedicated each day towards each aspect. Monday and Tuesday are both school and sport, Wednesday is school, Thursday and Friday are work and sport, and weekends are social and work. To not burn myself out, I try not to put all my effort into the aspects that I'm not too keen on, such as studying for school. That way I can stay mentally fresh and live as stress free as possible. 
Week 9- ‘Understanding and utilising feedback’
Being in the second half of the semester, the many assignments completed and submitted have come with many forms of feedback and advice. Throughout all my classes, I have read the feedback provided and tried my best to implement or remove any of the suggestions made. For example, the group presentations I was a part of in the first half of the semester resulted in feedback including comments such as maintaining audience engagement. A video presentation assignment that was due for The Media Industry class was a prime example of me using feedback provided from previous assignments. The tone and timing of my voice and words, the breaks and breaths in between, the pronunciation etc all were things I needed to work on from previous assignments. I always enjoy reading the feedback given on assignments, as I consider myself a perfectionist so I never really focus on what works but I instead focus on what needs improvement. That can be both a blessing and a curse, as I never settle for the bare minimum, but it also means I can never be satisfied with a result, no matter how good it is. The type of feedback that motivates me and helps me the most is straight up honesty, no matter how harsh it may be. I've always believed that being real in these circumstances provides the person with a reality check, and can almost wake them up and give them a sense of realisation, in my eyes at least. 
Week 11- ‘Managing Assessments’
I feel like I've done well on managing my time to work on assessments and balancing my social life, sport and work in between. I try to complete most of my assignments during the time I’m at school, as I try to use the time I'm not at school to dedicate to the other aspects of my life as previously stated. In all honesty, school isn't and has never been a top priority of mine, which is obviously a horrible way to treat it. But I've never been a fan of schooling in general, so I treat it as a hobby as a way to have more fun with it and enjoy it more. So what this means for managing assessments is that I will either complete them early and get them over and done with or complete them a couple days before the due date because of the priority they have in my life. I’m happy with the grades I'm getting anyway, and I know the amount of time and effort I put into these assignments impact the results I get, but like I said, I am more than happy with these results. And these results show how much time and effort I put into these assignments, as the results are always almost average or just above, which makes me consistent at least. 
Week 13- ‘Future Strategies’
Looking back at my previous entries, it seems that I was always fine with my work and the whole approach of my new chapter of schooling. I was surprised that I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would, and there were nothing but positive comments made. There weren't any negatives I stated about my first semester, but I feel now that it's over it can give me the chance to do so. The one thing that I wasn't too happy about were the long days of Tuesday. I would have a class from 9-12 and then a 2 Hour break until my next 3 hour lecture. This has nothing to do with the lectures themselves, rather the massive and unnecessarily long break in between. Other than that, in terms of things that were out of my control, I was pretty pleased with everything. The stuff that was in my control could have been dealt with better, but there's nobody to blame but me. I have developed the mental discipline to complete assignments on time and not force myself to stay awake the night before they're due, which I am very proud of, and also balanced all the other parts of my life very well. My confidence towards approaching assignments and school in general definitely increased, as I felt less and less intimidated by big assignments as the semester went on. For the future, now that I have a whole semester's-worth of experience under my belt, I may start to fine tune all my assignments and really nail them down to the very last minute detail. In terms of effort, depending on my schedule it is hard to say whether or not things will change, but I can promise to myself that whatever school work I get I will do more than the bare minimum, a habit I used to have in high school.
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totiredtowrite · 3 years
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Howdy! I heard you were taking asks. :D
Could I possibly get how Kuboyasu or Saiki (or both if possible) would react to their bf (reader ofc) hugging them out of nowhere? 🥺🙏 Pls I almost never see any Saiki K blogs 💀 the anime is so underrated, why doesn't it get the proper attention? Oop- I'm rambling- sorry :P
I'm anon bc I'm shy asf- 🤷‍♂️
– 🥑
Touchy Boy
Warnings ~ Nope
Note: This is adorable ngl. Also When I started writing this (rn) its 12:16 am, and my brain is kinda fried lol. I need my 4 hours of sleep :0
Update: Okay it's been like four hours and it is now 4:42am at the time I'm writing this update. Back and ready to rumble >:). Also saiki's is a bit shorter than Kuboyasu's because of the whole brain fry thing, and I had more ideas for Kuboyasu.
Male Reader
Kuboyasu Aren
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Ask Kuboyasu who startles him the most, and chances are he'll either answer his best friend Shun Kaidou, or you. His boyfriend, (y/n) (l/n).
He doesn't even understand why you do it! Always springing random hugs at him when he doesn't expect it. His whole "past as a delinquent" makes him kind of jumpy when you just...appear from nowhere and wrap your arms around him.
Eventually of course he gets used to your sudden displays of affection. Sometimes he misses your hugs when you're out sick or something.
It's really the best thing to him after a while, though the first one was kind of rocky.
He heard your voice before he saw you. "Aren!" Always bright and cheerful whenever you said his name. Even if you weren't like that normally, it was hard not to get excited when it comes to this boy. It make him feel, well, special. What he didn't expect was for you to come barreling into him at full force. You were behind him, running into his back and wrapping your arms around his abdomen.
He froze up instantly. Went stiff like a board, face blank. He wasn't used to this. You were at his back, hugging him, and this sudden touch was far too fast for him to get used to. People don't usually touch him! This all felt like too much, even if you were his boyfriend!
Even so, he can't say he didn't like the comforting feeling of you holding him.
When you peeled away from him after a moment of awkward silence and moved to his side, shuffling awkwardly, a thought hit him like a slap in the face.
Of course you would feel weird after that! He didn't say anything, instead opting to stay silent and go unresponsive. Like a rock. (An odd way to describe it, but weirdly accurate nonetheless).
Truly no one was in any sort of fault here. Teenage boys in love were bound to do weird, awkward things sometimes, and it's nothing that can't be fixed. (It wasn't even all that devastating in the first place).
He turned towards you and hugged you, tugging you into him rather forcefully and awkwardly before you chuckled and lifted your arms to return the embrace. No words were needed, and the two of you stayed like that for a little while before pulling apart to head to school hand in hand.
Kusuo Saiki
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Of course he always sees it coming. He knows whenever you go to hug him, so the fact that his heart rate picks up and he feels startled doesn't make any sense to him.
He knows when you intend to hug him, and he knows where you are. Yet and still, the actual contact never fails to make him jump a bit. As powerful as he is, he just wasn't as used to a boy actually touching him as he was reading intention and thoughts.
His boy, specifically.
You, his wonderful boyfriend, who also liked to hug him at random points in the day.
It kind of goes without saying that the first one went a lot smoother than it would have with Aren.
He felt your presence before he felt you. Did he expect it? Yes. Was it still somehow a surprise? Also yes.
A pleasant surprise though. He felt you coming, and turned around to make it easier for you to hug him. You didn't seem to notice that though, as you were solely concentrated on hugging him.
You ran right into him, circling your arms around him and resting your head in his neck. "Morning.." you muttered out lazily, a dumb grin on your face. Saiki rolled his eyes, and turned his head so that you couldn't see his little smile.
Morning
Your grin devolved into a content little face, humming softly in response and resting there for a bit. As loud and obnoxious as some people could be, Saiki admits he likes your random hugs.
He can't seem to decipher a pattern, it's really just whenever you feel like it. It's...cute, if anything.
So he stays content with it. Even if he expects your randomly placed hugs, he can never deny the little surprise and contentment that came with being able to embrace you, even for just a little while.
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limitlessgojo · 3 years
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Going to a Private Onsen with Gojo
NSFW Gojo Satoru x F!Reader, established relationship
Type: One shot. This is around almost 4k words.
Warnings: 18+ NSFW content, Voyeurism, exhibitionism, daddy kink, squirting, overstimulation, praising, dom!Gojo, breeding kink, slightly manipulative/ Yandere Gojo, degradation
Notes: finally got to finish this fic, my motivation just dropped halfway lmao. The inn house has rooms with private hot springs. Not shared like the communal ones in public bath houses. This is half fluff half smut.
The private hot springs per room are separated by bamboo trees and wooden walls. (With holes. So you know what's gonna go down👀💦💦💦)
You and Satoru finally get the chance to have a 2 day 1 night short break from work. He takes you to an inn, checking in a tatami room with a private hot spring (onsen) included. The place smelled fresh, and you could smell the flowers outside.
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"We can see the hot springs from here love. What do you think? It's gorgeous isn't it?" Satoru wiggled his eyebrows at you. You both set your luggage down, making yourselves at home. The sun is still high up, it is only 2:00pm and the hot spring is steaming, the sunlight making the water shine and glitter.
"It's not bad at all; the room is quite big as well." You smiled. Despite knowing that you're only stroking his ego, you let it go for once. Just this once because it is a special break after all. He internally pats himself on the back, beaming at you. “Glad you like it. Let’s take a walk around the area and then come back for dinner.”
“Fine with me”. Both of you changed into traditional clothing first. Gojo into a Yukata and you into your kimono. He helped you tie your obi and do your hair up. "Look how pretty my kitten is." He practically purred out as he cinched your waist beneath his large hands. His hands felt like fire on your waist.
You flushed, softly calling out his name. "N-not now." You stared at his profile. All lean and muscular. Knowing his physique hidden under the blue fabric did nothing to help. 
"Not now." He agreed. But the glint in his eyes said otherwise. Still he held himself back.
So you both set out, exploring the town. The stalls were bustling with people. You both bought souvenirs for the students as well as omamori (charms) for various purposes. 
You visited the temple and just tried to relieve the pent up stress from the last few weeks. “The air is so cool and it smells really nice here.” The flowers were all in bloom, as it was spring as of now. Satoru, however, kept his eyes on you for most of the time instead of the scenery around him. 
“Yeah, it’s real pretty isn’t it? Wanna take some photos?”
“Good idea! I need a new lock screen pic of us Toru!” you smiled. Your smile unfortunately dimmed upon noticing other women staring at Satoru and batting their eyelashes at him (ignoring the fact that you were right beside him). 
You’ve always known that he was a gorgeous person, just thanking your lucky stars that he actually came around to reciprocate your feelings. “Hey”, Satoru cupped your face and turned it to face him. He was pouting. “Focus on me love. This trip is just for us.” 
You gave him a weak smile. “Yeah, sorry about that. AH! I wanna have a picture by that Sakura tree~”. You tried to be more enthusiastic and engaging, blocking out any jealous and negative thoughts. 
Seriously, it's not like you didn't trust him. Just that your insecurity gets to you sometimes. You quickly bat the thoughts away. Your thoughts came to a halt when you felt something soft on the corner of your lips. 
"Love you." Satoru murmured against your cheek. You turned to see his eyes under his drooping sunglasses just an inch away from yours. You couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Of course he knows how you feel. "I love you more Toruu~ Now let's go." You gave him a genuine and bright smile. Walking over to a shaded area near the lake, surrounded by tall grass.
He leaned down to press his cheek against the top of your head and placed one arm around you. His other hand was holding up his phone for a selfie. After you took some pretty and funny photos, he surprised you by bringing out a polaroid.
"Eh?! Since when did you bring that with you?" You asked him. Satoru gave a sneaky smirk, "Well. Since you talked non stop about loving the vintage aesthetic recently, I thought it would be good to make a small scrapbook or photo album of this trip." 
".... who are you and what have you done with my husband..."
"Hey! That's rude. I'm always nice and sweet." He pouted and widened his eyes, using a finger to push down his shades. "I knowww~ Just kidding Toru, I love your ideas. I'll help you with it then." 
"Of course you will pumpkin." He squeezed you against his side, not caring about anyone who might be looking at both of you being overly affectionate in public. 
He took pictures using the polaroid camera every now and then. Taking your hand and leading you around, Satoru did not give your thoughts a chance to move away from him. He didn't hesitate to tickle you when your guard was down and poked at your cheeks with the most annoying grin. 
After that it was just you and him. Enjoying your precious time together, undisturbed by anyone else. By the time the sun was setting, you dragged him over to an Izakaya. "Should we have dinner here?" You asked him. 
"Ooooh! Looks like they have good meat and eel. That's fine with me." He replied. You both enjoyed dinner and had a bit of sake. Satoru always looked cute with flushed red cheeks and that big stupid smile of his. "Well you look cuter than me for once Hun." He quipped back.
You smiled as you wiped that teriyaki sauce off the corner of his mouth for him. It was a really peaceful day. 
Walking back to the inn, you noticed a shadow moving quickly just by the corner of your eye. This is why you don't think about work during your free time. Feeling chills run up your spine, you turned to see a curse, staring straight back at you. "Ah shit I left my sword back in the inn." 
Not even having finished your sentence, you watched as Satoru flicked his wrist and took down the 2nd grade curse in an instant. "I told you not to worry darling. I'm not going to let anything hurt you." He tutted and booped your nose playfully, eyes shining. 
"Heehh~" you pretended not to be impressed but by the look on his face, you knew you didn't do a good job of hiding it. He just chuckled and wrapped his arms around you. "Toru I can't walk like this." 
It was like trying to lug a 190cm tall clingy infant. "I'll protect you with my infinity from all sides love." He looked really happy, just prancing around with you in his arms as you both made your way back to the inn. 
💜💜💜
You both settled back in and got ready to take a bath. It was a really good day and everything went smoother than you thought it would, knowing your chaotic and unorthodox doof of a husband. 
"Dinner was so good. This was a great idea Toru, thank you." You smiled up at him. He smiled back, so soft and gentle with you. The way he never is and never will be with anyone else.
"Now then, I'll be taking my payment from you." You looked up at him, confusion evident on your face. Your husband of 5 years still confuses you until this day. "I'm sorry?" you felt affronted as you asked the question. You had no problem paying your share of the bills, heck you earn a lot as a 1st grade Jujutsu sorcerer yourself. 
But Satoru spent about over a month pestering you about wanting to treat you to a short staycation with him. "Yes", he replied slowly making his way towards you, towering over your shorter frame. You stood your ground and craned to look up at him. 
"Thank you for the meal sweetheart. You will be my dessert." He removed his glasses and threw them aside to showcase his bright blue eyes. You shivered from the intensity, and his lips turned up in a smirk. His words were somewhat funny, but his tone was dead serious.
He wasted no time, leaning down to suck down on the juncture of your neck and shoulder, after he pulled one side of your kimono off your shoulder. "Sa-Satoru!!, hah- ", his grip on you was way too tight.
"Baby, I am so sorry I can't wait any longer. Won't you be good for me?" Satoru asked as he took a step back and cupped your cheeks in his hands.
It's true that this man has no self-control, always palming your ass down the hallways at Tokyo Jujutsu High. But you rarely see him as desperate as he is now, that it was actually endearing to you. So you relented, earning a grin from the man.
He helped you out of your kimono, littering small kisses on your forehead and cheeks, before he started biting on one ear. 
Unclasping your bra, he reached down to grope your breasts. You stared at him as he suckled on one nipple while toying with the other. His eyes opened to meet yours, and you could feel the growing wetness between your legs.
You also reached up to pull his Yukata off, undoing the tie on his waist. "I love it when you hair is done up darling. I can bite as much of your neck as I want." He growled out against your shoulder, biting and sucking wherever he can.
Your mouth watered upon seeing the outline of his hard-on straining against his boxers. On the other hand, Satoru stared unashamedly as you pulled down your panties, keeping your legs together to keep your slick from dripping down your legs.
Impatiently, you reached up and ran your fingers through his locks. "Satoru~" you whined. He only smirked in response. In one quick movement, he gathered you into his arms and brought you over to the small washing area with the soap and shower-head. 
He was still in his boxers however. You just stared at it, drawing closer to press your hand and rub the outline. He let out a long moan, which led to you to quickly look up and snap out a hush. "The neighbours might hear us Toru." You whined. 
"Tch, Let them hear. They can't touch or experience us anyways. And I want to show off my lovely little wife." He leered down at you, finally removing his wet boxers and throwing it onto the ground.
His hard cock sprang up and slapped against his abs. As if moving by some force, you immediately dropped to your knees. Rubbing soap onto his waist, thighs, and finally pumping his cock with your soapy hands. You looked up to him as you "cleaned" him off with innocent eyes. 
Satoru wasn't impressed. "Don't tease me baby or you'll regret it." He pulled you up and brought you into a deep kiss. You both gathered more soap and started washing each other off.
With his hands moving slowly down the sides, Satoru didn't hold himself back from touching every nook and cranny of your body. From your neck, to your shoulders, down your breasts, going to your thighs and legs. His hands were rubbing at your skin, inching nearer and nearer to your cunt. Until he suddenly pulled away, making you cry out at the loss of contact. 
"Be good for me and let me clean you first kitten." He whispered.
No other words were shared as you both rinsed and washed each other off before moving to the onsen.
"You know, I've always wanted to fuck you in a hot spring." Satoru smirked as you both dipped into the water. You sat on his lap and clasped your hands behind his neck, straddling him. His hands gripping either side of you waist tightly. 
"No I don't know." You turned away from him as you rested your head against his chest. He hummed. Both of you resting for a bit. You were both in the same state, antsy for action, but trying to enjoy the hot springs at the same time. 
For a while you both just stayed soaking in the hot water. Until you started grinding down against him. He just stared down at your figure. Breasts spilling against his chest, the slope of your s line with your ass under the water. But you refused to meet his eyes.
Satoru didn't really like that very much. He pinched your thigh hard. "Ow!,' you yelped. "Toru what was-" you finally turned to look up at him, but faltered and stopped moving. His eyes were bright and his expression dark. "I thought my baby was going to be good for me tonight. You don't wanna beg me later just to come right? Or does daddy have to make you do just that?"
As soon as he said the word daddy you felt your insides clench around nothing, thighs quivering. He looked down towards your body, grinning at your response. He pulled you out of the water, sitting down on the ground beside it. 
"Suck me off baby and I'll consider making you cum."
You crawled over on all fours towards him. You kissed him first, then trailed downwards, licking off the water and sweat on Satoru's abs and the outlines of his hard muscles. He groans while staring at you, pupils blown so wide his bright blue eyes actually look dark for once. 
You can see the carnal lust raging behind him as you squeeze your breasts together while kneeling and licking his abs. You leave small butterfly kisses as you slowly make your way down to his aching member.
But, he groans as you skip past it and suck love marks into his lower thighs. "Pumpkin, please -UNGH, p-please don't tease so much." Satoru groaned. You smirked up at him, meeting his eyes while sticking your tongue out and licking one of his balls. Sucking it into your mouth and covering it with your spit.
He reached down to lift your chin up, thumbing your lips as he watched the saliva trickle down down side of your mouth to his fingers. The current sight of you is so lewd and dirty that Satoru almost came on the spot right there. 
You decide to humor him and move to licking the head of his dick, while grabbing a hold of the base and slowly pumping it up and down. Satoru threw his head back. He looked up, seeing the night sky and the stars twinkling while feeling hot pleasure run through his body. He felt like he was floating.
You tried deepthroating all of him in one go, but he was just too big. "Baby, your mouth is too small for daddy's cock isn't it?". You whimpered in response. Trying to swallow as much of him as you can while using your hand for the remainder of his length.
Quiet mewls escaped the sides of your mouth as you opened your aching jaws wider. Tears started running down your face. You didn't stop as you relaxed your jaw and took more of him, swallowing what you can while pumping. He bucked up without warning, causing your gag reflex to react. Then he pulled you off.
"That's enough for now. I wanna make sure I stuff every bit of cum I have inside of your pussy baby." He pulled you up over him, this time with his back to the floor as he spoke. 
"Lemme eat you out, I've been waiting for this all day." He was salivating at the sight of your pussy, positioned in front of his face. You lowered yourself onto him slowly. Impatiently, he tugged you waist down, smashing your lower lips against his mouth. You let out a loud yelp followed by heavy breaths and mewls as he ate you out.
Thrusting his tongue in and out of your walls. He loved the taste of you, always thirsty for more. You tried to grind your pussy against his face. But he held your legs in place with one arm, wrapping around your behind. The other hand was playing with your clit. 
In no time at all you were sobbing and cumming all over his face. Satoru didn't spare you one second of rest. He pulled away and lined himself up, pushing into you during your orgasm. 
He immediately started fucking into you earnestly, grabbing a hold of your waist and lifting it to pull you on and off his cock. "Toru, it's too much for me, I can't-" You could barely get the words out of your mouth as you slurred them out with your eyes shut. 
"Yes you can. I know you can. Because you're made for me and only you can do a good job for me like this love." Satoru grunted as he pumped into you like there was no tomorrow. 
He loved it when your walls clenched and squeezed against him tightly. Especially when your whole body shook during an orgasm. Whenever you open your eyes all you can see are the stars blurring due to your movements. You both came like that, with your backs arching. His cock stayed hard, twitching as it spurted and filled you up. 
He suddenly felt the sensation of eyes on him. As the user of six eyes, his senses were wide alert at ALL times. He looked to the side of the wooden wall, and saw dark eyes staring back at him.
He didn't stop thrusting. You whined and mewled as you ground your hips against his. "Fuck, such a slut for me. Love it when you cry and make those noises babe. Just look at me. I won't look at any other person, man or woman. I'm yours as long as you're mine." He growled out.
He pulled out to reposition you. Dragging your body on top of his. Your back against his chest. "Daddy, I want you. I want more!" You whined out. You positioned his cock at your entrance.
"Daddy will give his baby what she wants. You've been so good to me after all love." He smirked inwardly pushed back upwards into you, thrusting at a fast pace. (Satoru chose the position because he knew you were both being watched. He loves to make other men so jealous of him having you).
You could only squeal and try to hold yourself up against him, putting your palms against the floor. But it was no use. He grabbed your thighs and kept fucking up harder and harder, making it hard for you to hold onto anything.
"Yes just like that baby. You're so good to me. You don't need to think. I'll make it so that you don't have to do anything else. You only need to feel my cock yeah? My doll is the best when she is crying on my cock." He moaned out. 
The man on the other side of the wall was joined by a few other men. Satoru used his ability to see through the wall following the movement of their cursed energy and saw that they were touching themselves to you.
"Daddy, please more. Daddyyy~" you were slipping further into subspace. Soon you couldn't speak clearly anymore. Just babbling nonsense while bouncing on Satoru's lap and staring hazily up at the sky.
"I think we have company." He laughed out. You snapped out of your haze to see peeking eyes behind the bamboo sticks. Satoru just thrusted harder. "Let's give them a show of their lifetime hmm? I spy old men wanting some action. But they won't be able to touch you baby."
He reached up with one hand to grope your breast and the other stayed below to play with your clit. Sex to him was almost like an art form. He knew exactly how to play with your body to bring you to your strongest orgasms. 
You tried to cover your body up but he pulled your arms away. "Don't run away baby, daddy's here to protect you. It will be okay."
At the end of the day you trusted him and his six eyes, so you let go. Pussy clenching harder at the thought of being watched by unknown strangers.
"That's it, my angel. So good for me. You're leaking far more than normal slut. You like it when people watch you get fucked?"
He reached up with his cum stained hand to spit into it. Then shoved his fingers in your mouth. You obediently suckled on and cleaned his fingers for him. He continued to grope you as he pounded away.
Satoru wasn't too worried about the spectators next door. He can see them clearly. Several middle aged men (probably sharing a larger room) messily jerking off to both of you. He saw the way their eyes travelled across your breasts and cunt, which was oozing with his cum.
He hit a hard deep spot inside of you which caused you to squirt hard, a large amount of liquid spraying out. Satoru quickly put his hands over your clit and furiously rubbed at it, wanting to prolong your squirting. You were crying out loud at this point. It was just music to his ears.
One man groaned out, causing you to tense and tighten and Satoru to moan out.
"You love putting a show on huh baby? We should do this more often if it gets you tighter and wetter around me." He snarked out while you drooled and asked for more.
He didn't stop thrusting until he came a few more times inside of you, changing positions.
The men watched as you rode him, your breasts bouncing up and down, while you placed your palms flat on Satoru's chest. They stared at the cum flowing out of your pussy, being fucked back into you by Satoru. The way you both groaned as you clamped down tight and milked his cock.
Soon you found yourself laying on your side with one leg up with Satoru spooning you from behind. What was frightening was his stamina and power. 
His thrusts never lost strength and soon you just felt like his cock was drilling a space inside of you, just for it. You felt so boneless in his hands when you both finished, laying down on your sides.
"Babe…. You okay? We need to clean up." Satoru whispered against your shoulder.
You could only mumble incoherent noises. Squeezing around his softening length, still plugged inside of you to keep his cum inside. 
Satoru gave out a soft sigh. Then gathered you into his arms and took you away from prying eyes. He just turned and smirked at them as he walked away with you, butt naked.
The watchers were disappointed that the show was over. Satoru then cleaned you both with the shower head in the washing area and wiped you down with soft towels.
You stayed silent the whole time. Your head felt like it was in the clouds. Just letting Satoru do his way with you like a doll. "You were really good for me tonight angel. Nobody else can touch you but me." He chuckled darkly.
You just listened to his simple commands such as putting your arms up when he dressed you in your nightgown. 'I always love fucking her dumb.' He smiled to himself as he settled you into his arms in bed. 
"Next time I'll be fucking you in the water." He whispered. He brought you closer to him, tucking your head against his neck. Kissing your forehead and patting you to put you to sleep. 
🎇🎇🎇
The next morning you were absolutely horrified to see people staring at you, when you both left your room to check out. 'I bet they heard us last night. And who were the ones peaking at us?!?!' you frightfully thought to yourself.
Satoru didn't really care. Smiling brightly at the attendants and thanking them for your amazing stay at the inn. 
"Toru I really enjoyed my stay, but it's hard to be happy now knowing that we did it at the expense of our neighbours stay." You whispered, hitting him. "Darling I'm pretty sure they enjoyed the show." He winked at you, shameless as ever.
Suffice to say, you decided not return to said hot springs for a while out of shame.
End notes: 🙈 this fic started because I just thought of Satoru's abs wet with steam and sweat but it evolved during the last edit. Hope you guys enjoyed! Reblogs and comments are very much appreciated 💜
All rights reserved to Limitlessgojo.
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the-broken-truth · 3 years
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The Language of Flowers - Donna Beneviento x Female Reader
Request Made By @p-jtarts
P.S.: THANKS FOR BEING MY FIRST ONE-SHOT ASK!
Summary: Donna would watch the Gardener every day since the first time she came to House Beneviento for work. Donna would sit on the porch and watch her, her affection for her growing by the day but could never make a move because she was so shy. What happens when something happens that makes Donna speak to her?
- Quick Key -
[Y/N] - YOUR FIRST NAME
[L/N] - YOUR LAST/SURNAME/FAMILY NAME
[H/C] - HAIR COLOR
[H/L] - HAIR LENGTH
[E/C] - EYE COLOR
[S/C] - SKIN COLOR
Donna would watch her from her pouch every morning when she went to water the flowers and every afternoon when she would sit in the garden to talk to the flowers - Donna would watch her every hour of every day if she could but she still had a family back home and would leave House Beneviento at the end of the day to return to them.
Just who was she? She was [Y/N] [L/N] - Eldest of the [L/N] Family and the new gardener of House Beneviento; she was a fair maiden with [H/L] [H/C], [E/C] eyes, and [S/C] skin. Donna remembered the day she first met her: Donna was in town when she noticed a woman with a vase of beautiful flowers and had Angie asked where the woman received them - out of fear, the woman told her about the [L/N] Family Flower Shop before running for her life. Donna watched the woman for a while before she headed in the direction she was told and that's when she saw her.
The most lovely of maidens aiding another customer with a smile on her face that seemed the shine like the full moon on a cloudless night. Donna was stunned by her that she didn't notice she walked closer to her until she heard a voice smoother than silk and sweeter than honey.
"Ma'am? Is there something I can do for you?" The maiden asked.
Donna was silent - was it from embarrassment or was she still stunned by the maiden.
"Hello." The doll called from the veiled woman's shoulder. "My name is Angie and this is Donna; she doesn't speak much." the doll explained.
"Oh, well it's pleased to meet you, Ms. Angie and Ms. Donna. Welcome to the [L/N] Flower Shop. What can I do for you?" The maiden asked with a smile.
"We need some flowers for our garden - what do you recommend?" Angie asked.
"Where do you live, if you don't mind me asking?" The maiden asked.
"We hail from House Beneviento in the Valley of Mist." Angie said.
"I don't know much of House Beneviento but I do know about the Valley of Mist - A Place shrouded in mystery and uncertainty." The maiden said.
"We saw a woman carrying a vase of roses - do you have any of those?" Angie asked.
"It's funny you say that - I was going to recommend Blue and White Roses for your garden." The maiden smiled.
"Why Blue and White instead of red?" Angie asked.
"Each flower has a different meaning just as a color has a different meaning: Blue Roses are a symbol for Mystery but they are also used to represent attaining the impossible & love at first sight." The maiden smiled.
"And the white roses?" Angie asked.
"In this case - The white rose would stand for Silence as the Valley of Mist is known as a deadly quiet place but they can also mean innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence, and humility." The maiden finished. The doll was silenced for a moment before she spoke again.
"You know a lot about flowers, don't you?" Angie asked.
"I do indeed, Ms. Angie. I've been known to speak the Language of Flowers." The maiden nodded with a smile.
"The Language of Flowers?" Angie asked.
"That's just a joke my father would tell me - he said I would spend more time talking to the flowers than to actual people but...I feel like the flowers understand me better than other people do." The maiden explained.
"May I ask a question?" Angie asked.
'What is Angie doing?' Donna wondered in her mind.
"I'll answer as best I can." The maiden smiled.
"Would you like to work at House Beneviento as the Gardener? We would pay you 2000 Lei every week." That offer made the Maiden's eyes widen (And Donna's too but you couldn't see them from the veil). 2000 Lei a week? that would be perfect - with her sales, as popular as the shop was - she was only getting around 800 a week. This money could really help her family.
"I would love this opportunity, Ms. Angie! Thank you!" The maiden bowed.
"Don't thank me - it was Donna's Idea; I just did the talking. By the way, what name do you go by?" Angie asked.
"Oh, My name is [Y/N]."
"Y/N..." Angie and [Y/N] looked at Donna; that was the first thing she said. "A very beautiful name."
"So is yours, Lady Donna Beneviento."
That was what lead them here - Donna was standing with Angie on her pouch as the two of them watch [Y/N] talking to the flowers in the garden as she pulled the tiny weeds that attempted the grow.
"You should talk to her, you know you want to." Angie whispered to Donna.
"I know I want to...I just can't." Donna whispered back.
"What's stopping you?" Angie asked, "She's been working here for a full month and you never talk to her; she was actually wondering if you disliked her, considering the way you just stand and stare at her without saying anything." Angie said.
"It's just...it's hard to find the words to say to her - her eyes are like endless pools of priceless gems when I look into them and I lose all the words I had in my head; I just want the chance to have something to talk to her about." Donna said.
"Well, you're gonna get your chance sooner than you think." Angie said.
"What makes you say that?" Donna asked.
"Because it's about to start raining." Angie said with a smirk - if she could smirk.
Sure enough - a sudden heavy rain came from nowhere and drenched [Y/N] who shrieked at the sudden downpour and used her arms to cover her head out of instinct. Donna's body moved too, she ran into the rain and grabbed the gardener by her wrist before pulling her to her feet and running back to the safety of the pouch.
"Whoa, that was sudden. Thank you, Lady Beneviento." [Y/N] said as she bowed to the second lord.
"It's alright." Donna spoke softly, "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, My Lady. I shall be a-a-ACHOO!" [Y/N] covered her nose just in time to keep the sneeze from hitting Donna or Angie.
"My, that sounds that a bad sneeze." Angie giggled.
"I underestimated just how dedicated the Earth is to watering its plants." [Y/N] chuckled to herself before placing her face in her elbow when she felt another sneeze coming on.
"You'll catch a cold in those wet garments. Come, I shall get you warm." Donna said as she held out her hand for [Y/N] to take - the young girl looked up at the lord with a blush creeping across her face before taking Donna's hand and allowing her to lead her into House Beneviento.
[A Few Moments Later]
[Y/N walked down the stairs in the white nightgown Donna allowed her to use while her clothes we soaked to the bone; judging from the sound of the massive downpour hitting the room and perimeter around the house - it was not going to ease up. She looked around to Donna but soon came face to face with the portrait that hung on the wall aligned with the stairs; it was of Donna and Angie but Donna didn't down her veil. [Y/N] kept her eyes upon the portrait, completely taken by the lady's beauty/
"You look comfy!" Angie suddenly appeared in [Y/N]'s face, making her jolt back.
"In the name of Mother Miranda, Ms. Angie; you nearly scared me to death." [Y/N] said as she eyed the doll.
"Sorry about that, I couldn't help myself; you seemed distracted so I took it upon myself to bring you back down the Earth." Angie giggled.
"Well, thank you; I wouldn't have wanted to get lost in the stars." [Y/N] smiled at Angie.
The sound of a door opening caused the two of them to look - Donna came out with a tray containing a pot of tea and two cups on saucers with a flask of creme and a bowl of sugar cups. [Y/N] headed over to Donna and took the tray from her - before placing it on the table where Donna was heading to. The Head and the Gardener sat in silence for a while before making themselves some tea.
"Um..." [Y/N] wasn't sure where to start. "You have a very beautiful home, Lady Beneviento." She said with a blush.
"Thank you." That was all Donna said before sipping her tea again. [Y/N] looked at her for a while before she placed her cup back on the saucer before she swallowed her fear and spoke.
"Lady Beneviento...do you dislike me?" that question made Donna freeze.
"What? No, I don't dislike you. Why would you think such a thing?" Donna's voice was laced in panic.
"It's just...you never talk to be apart from today - you're always distant and I thought..." Donna cut her off.
"It's not that!" Donna said in a rushed voice before she calmed down. "It's not that I don't like you - I do, it's just that I like you more than I should but...I never knew how to approach you. I never knew how to talk to you." Donna said as she looked down at her hands but she gasped when she saw a pair of smaller ones reach across the table and gently took one of hers in a soft embrace.
"I understand, Lady Beneviento; I...feel the same. I was so curious about you and something about you draws me to you. I understand if you wouldn't wish to rush; maybe we could talk? Get to know each other better?" [Y/N] asked with a tilt of her head and a smile.
"I...I would like that." Donna said.
"I'll start - My name is [Y/N] [L/N] and I co-own a flower shop." [Y/N] said with a smile.
"My name is Donna Beneviento and I'm one of the Four Lords of the Romanian Village."
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velvett-tearss · 3 years
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Inertia — Jean Kirschtein
summary: A little gravity and spilled coffee never hurt anybody, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt Jean, especially if coming from you.
warning: cursing, gender-neutral reader (no pronouns mentioned), you won’t get the gist of it if you don’t remember 8th grade science lmao ❤️ (laws of motion)
genre: modern au, fluff
word count: 1.3k
a/n: very much an impulse post, this has been collecting dust in my drafts for too long lmao, I hope you enjoy this <3 I sure didn’t 😀
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     Jean has never been good with science.
     He learned it for a number of years in different classes — biology, chemistry, physics — and he still couldn't tell you anything other than that mitochondria was the powerhouse of the cell.
It wasn't all that bad at first. He did enjoy it in the earlier years of school where most of his teachers breezed past it along with social studies. It was when the class actually started to learn periodic elements that things took a turn.
He learned it, nonetheless. There really wasn't a rule that gets you out of being taught a subject, as uninteresting as you may find it or the class itself.
     Despite this, Jean isn't exactly a lost cause in the science department. A few things have stuck with him, believe it or not. Gravity, photosynthesis, some Charles Darwin dude.
     But now, he wishes he payed attention more in science class. Maybe he would've understood what you were saying the first time he met you.
     "Geez, do you always have somewhere to be?" Jean had asked you with a scowl. He was sprawled on the floor, looking up at you. The two of you weren't acquainted yet. Not necessarily.
He placed you very easily, though. He'd seen you running around the university's campus a lot of the time. You never seemed to be still, in one place, in one piece.
     The reason behind it? He didn't know or care.
You had bumped into him a number of times. The first three times, Jean waved the incident off in good-nature. He thought himself to be a man with patience, something you didn't seem to have. There was no harm in running into someone from time to time.
It was the fourth time that he wasn't so pleased with. Each time you bumped into him, you sent him tumbling on his ass. Hard. He always landed on the floor in a comedic position like those cartoon characters on T.V.
    And each time — no matter the day — you, somehow, remained perfectly unscathed and standing. That wasn't even the worst of it: you always stood there, a hand on your hip and an impatient expression painting your face.
     All that ever did was bruise his ego and ass a bit. You usually went your separate ways after quick apologies, and Jean would see you leave in a quicker speed than when you'd arrived.
But this time around, you had a cup of coffee in your hands.
"What if I do?" you had countered, bending down to help him off the ground. You were scowling. Scowling! How could you look so displeased when it was him who'd been spilled with coffee?!
“Maybe you should manage your time better.” he bit back, allowing you to help him up.
"Maybe you shouldn't walk along the inner corners of hallways."
"Maybe you shouldn't run in the building." Jean told you, trying to ignore the large patch of his damp shirt that clung to his midriff. It was sticky and hot, and he didn't like it one bit. "Besides, everyone knows the inside lane is for leaving."
"No, it's not." you threw back quickly, as if you had been prepared for this interaction. Had you had this conversation with someone else before? How many other people had been victim of your coffee throwing and iron step?
"The outside lane is for when someone is leaving, and the inside lane is for coming in. Same goes for stairs."
Jean raised a brow, patience running dangerously thin on him. "Who made that rule up?" he questioned, unimpressed by your words. He refrained from calling you something that might’ve gotten him a smack to the face.
     "Rising is harder than descending." you explained, crossing your arms over your chest. You gave him an expression that mirrored his. "Plus, the inner lane is shorter than the outer lane. It's— Well, it's the law of gravity."
     You spoke with such conviction he feared he'd been wrong about everything in his life. Besides, he didn't know a thing about gravity other than that it kept him from flying into space.
     "Alright, fine, but why would you run with a steaming cup of coffee in your hands?" Jean asked in retaliation. He may have lacked in the science department, but he knew his common sense quite well. "It's like you want to spill it all over people."
Your mouth opened and shut quickly. He raised a brow, awaiting for your comeback that never came. Instead, you did the weirdest thing.
You laughed at him, eyes crinkling slightly at him. It was then that he realized maybe he wasn't so mad at you after all, Spilt coffee never hurt anybody, right? He would live to see the next day, so was there really any harm?
     "Okay, you're right." you admitted, almost bashfully. Your eyes traveled down to the brown stain of coffee on his dress shirt. "I shouldn't run around with hot drinks anymore, but you shouldn't walk along the inner lane when you're leaving the building."
     "Alright, deal. No more walking in the corners."
     You nodded, lips pursed. "No more running with coffee."
     It wasn't long after that he finally mustered up the courage to ask you out to dinner. He isn't gonna lie and say it was all sunshine and rainbows because it wasn't.
You were always running, always on the go. Were you running out of time? You had nowhere to be, yet you feared the thought of being late. Had you ever stopped and smelled the roses?
It was pretty hard at times. Getting accustomed to your way of things was hard. You were a mess before you met him. At least that's what you always say. Jean doesn't think so.
Maybe you were, in a sense. That was fine, too. It didn't bother him. Messes were made to be cleaned up after all, and he didn't mind leading the clean-up crew if you let him.
Things started sailing smoother as time flew. It was nice. Being with you was nice. You stopped spilling coffee on people. He stopped walking along the inner corners of hallways.
You never seemed to stop running, though. That was a constant in your lives. That was okay, too. Jean had to learn how to keep up with your never-ending speed, but you always let him set the pace. Maybe that's his favorite thing about you.
He taught you that being at rest isn't always a bad thing. You don't have to rush to get things done. Sometimes it's okay to just stop and be grateful for what's now and not what can be.
You taught him a fair share, too. You explained to him that the law of gravity isn’t actually about rising and descending. That had just been a lie to get you out of a bad situation. There was such thing as a law of gravity discovered by Isaac Newton.
Maybe Jean should've payed attention in science class when they talked about Newton because perhaps he would've understood what you were saying that first day.
All he knew was Newton's Laws of Motion, mainly the first: an object stays at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
     He figured it was something like you.
As fast as you walked, you never seemed to stop. Not until you sent him to the ground on his ass with a coffee stain on his shirt. Maybe he was the unbalanced force that acted on you. He wasn't completely sure.
     After all, Jean had never been good at science.
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note: self-projected here bc I fucking hate science too ,, does this make sense or was I spitting gibberish skdkskdn
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obeiii-mee · 4 years
Note
How will the bros react to MC self-doubting themselves? Like saying bad things about them or can't be serious someone give them compliment.
Supportive demon bois coming right up! Sorry I took so long to write this anon! Thank you so much for the ask! (Also, thank you all for the love on my previous posts!)
————————————
The Brothers with an MC who self doubts themselves:
Lucifer:
-As the embodiment of pride itself, Lucifer has an overwhelming amount of confidence, almost all the damn time
-So, he was flabbergasted to learn that you weren’t the same
-He always insisted that you aren’t anything but perfect, yet you always seemed to brush the compliments off with a shrug and an awkward smile
-Well, shit, we can’t have that
-Lucifer just got 10x more serious about the matter
-He pulls a really stupid concerned face whenever you insult yourself and he looks more and more like a 48 year old man/dad each time it happens
-He, as of late, increased the number of pet names he has for you and the amount of compliments he gives you each day
-He refuses to let you talk badly about yourself anywhere, at any point in time and encourages every little step you take towards bettering yourself like crazy
- Lucifer wants to prove to you that you are an absolute ray of sunshine and he will go to any lengths to do just that (do not ask)
-He’s even more affectionate than usual which confuses just about everyone in the House of Lamentation, yourself included
-His brothers are feeling a disturbance in the force and they don’t know how to feel about it
-You are possibly the best thing that’s happened to him since he fell as angel and Lucifer is ready to do whatever he can to help you realise that
Mammon:
-“You’re an idiot!”
-“*Sigh*, I know.”
-“Wha-Wait! Y-you can’t say thAT!”
-The Great Mammon is seriously worried about his human
-Being the dense motherfucker he is (i still love him tho) it took him weeks to realise you’re not all that confident in yourself
-At some point in your relationship, he jokingly called you annoying and you just went “Yeah I’ve been told. Sorry.”
-His jaw literally dropped and he almost cried
-He would have choked if he was drinking something
-Tsundere Mammon has gone bye bye and here comes the cuddling teddy bear that is your boyfriend
-He also doesn’t have as much self love for himself as he sometimes pretends to have so he’s kinda in the same boat
-Which means your boat is leaking and you’re perfectly fine with it while he’s panicking and trying to throw water overboard with his hands
-His brothers call him an idiot a lot but he’s a very sociable guy with people skills that he uses all the time in order to coax you out of your self pitiying shell
-Will whine every time you call yourself ‘useless’ or disagree with his compliments because what the hell, you’re literally the most gorgeous being ever let me love youuuu
-When it comes to you and your happiness, he ain’t fucking around. He will snarl at anyone that even looks at you in the wrong way
-Did that to Lucifer once, guess a what happened
-You’ve definitely helped him come to terms with the fact that he is loveable and not a good for nothing scum
-So now it’s your turn!
-Let him kiss your insecurities away please
-Your presence makes him feel wanted so he wants the same for you!
Levi:
-Well then
-It takes two to tango ya know?
-He is the KING of self loathing and no confidence whatsoever in anything he does so every time you put yourself down, he counters it with a self deprecating insult as well
-“I suck.”
-“Nah, you’re pretty awesome normie. I’m the shut in, disgusting otaku who can barely set foot outside his bedroom without having an anxiety attack.”
-It’s like you’re trying to outdo the other on who is worse
-Truth is, he really admires you, especially knowing you chose to date him; an anime nerd with no social life and no communication skills whatsoever
-It hurts a bit, every time he builds up the courage to actually compliment you and you not taking it seriously
-That’s because he recognises that he’s the same and just as harsh on himself as you are
-Levi knows self hatred is something that takes time to demolish
-But you are his Henry after all (also his partner but whatevs)
-He’s not gonna leave you hanging when you need him the most
-He also gradually stops calling you a normie as your relationship progresses, though it still slips through every now and again
-Basically, the first time he realised that you think negatively of yourself, his immediate reaction was: Haha lmao relatable
-But now, every time it happens, he gets all serious
-Puts his controller down and everything, it’s like witnessing a very rare phenomenon and it’s creepy as shit
-He’s also made an effort to be more physically affection though he is kinda shy about it because damn it he just wants to hug you every time you speak badly of yourself
-Probably writes a list at some point stating all the reasons why you are better than him and Ruri chan combined, it’s rlly sweet
Satan:
-He’s a bit curious as to where that mentality has come from
-What triggered you to be so self doubtful?
-He’s basically your psychotherapist and asks you a lot of questions trying to find different causes and solutions for your issues
-Honestly, he puts so much effort into trying to understand, reading books about it from the human realm and whatever he can find in order to help you
-He scrunches up his nose every time you call yourself an idiot or anything of the sort
-Satan knows that insisting you’re wonderful won’t exactly help you overcome this problem of yours
-But that doesn’t stop him from doing it
-It’s not like you can ignore his comments because he will keep complimenting you until you accept them
-He also repeats a lot of pick up lines but that’s just part of being his partner
-What do you mean you’re worthless?!! He would literally give away all of his books and his hatred for Lucifer in exchange for your well being!
-Satan is possibly the smartest out of all of his brothers, so he uses a tactical approach on this one
-Direct affectionate gestures don’t work on you so he’s gonna be more subtle
-Would slightly hint that you are amazing every time you do something for him, like fetching him a book or something
-“Ah thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you love.”
-He’s a lot smoother than he gives himself credit for
-He just appreciates your existence and that there’s someone out there that he doesn’t need to be act hostile or fake toward
-Satan is ready to sit down and listen to you talk about your insecurities for hours on end
-You would quietly say something bad about yourself and he would run through the House of Lamentation before bursting into the room you are in, shouting ‘No! That’s wrong!’ (going Danganronpa on your asses)
-“Welp, I fucked up again. I can’t do anything right.”
-And then, in the distance you hear boss music starting
Asmo:
-*Shocked Gasp*
-How could you say such things about yourself???? Is that even leGAl?
-Of course, the literally prince of Lust, with all of his narcissism, has never experienced things like ‘self doubt’ of ‘bad self esteem’
-Pfft, the fuck is that?
-He only uses the most positive of words when he describes himself
-So obviously he almost falls off the bed when he hears you insulting yourself for the first time
-But ya know, that would leave bruises on his beautiful skin
-“Oh darling, you’re not annoying or a moron! You’re not anything like Mammon!”
-That was a below belt fatal hit, press f in the chat for the second eldest
-At some point, he just genuinely believes you’ve been spending too much time with Levi and that his negativity started rubbing off on you
-But then you tell him you’ve always been like this and he almost has a crisIS
-He’s like ‘Haha, no, we’re going to get a spa day out tomorrow and a few shopping sprees so I can prove to you that you are magnificent in every way imaginable.’
-Asmo loves pampering you in general but on the days he sees you feeling extra sorry for yourself, he goes above and beyond
-Gets very hurt when you brush off his compliments because he just wants you to accept the fact that you’re beautiful
-He’s like a supportive mom lmao, whenever you’re feeling self doubtful, he goes “You’re doing great sweetie, keep it up I’m really proud of you.”
-It’s up to you to decide whether that helps or not
-He’s such a sweetheart in reality, it’s hard to remember that he’s supposed to be horny all the time
-Well he is but that’s not the point, you’re way more important
-Asmo is so much fun to write cuz I can make him so dramatic it’s hilarious
Beel:
-Oh no :(
-He gets very sad everytime you self deprecate yourself
-You can’t do it with him in the room because he’s going to start crying and give you this kicked puppy stare, it will break your heart
-Beel kinda comes over and goes “If I give you some of my food will you please stop saying bad things about yourself? Because it’s not true.”
-Well you can’t say no to that face
-He feels like it’s his fault you’re this self doubtful even though you’ve tried to explain to him you’ve always been like this
-He goes crying to his twin half the time because he doesn’t know what to do
-“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to drop it! Fucking hell, I’m such a fucking klutz.”
-“Sniffle no you’re not.”
-He’s like, giving you large portions of his food now
-Because food makes him happy so he wants you to be happy too
-🙂
-His brothers go in shock every time because the only other person Beel has ever shared his food with before was Belphie
-Physical affection goes through the roof with this guy
-Bone crushing hugs btw
-Your self worth is so immeasurable with him, you can’t even measure it
-W h o a
-I’m being serious, don’t talk badly about yourself in front of him unless you want to be hugged into next week
-You are a literal angel in his eyes, of course he thinks highly of you
-He’s just hoping his presence isn’t making your self esteem worse, that’s the thing that keeps him up at night
-Idk why but he does think that he is a bad influence on your mental well being since he’s a demon
-Beel gives you compliments all the time and it confuses him when you laugh them off uncertainly because he wasn’t joking or lying??
-He’s always supportive of your choices and encourages you to be more confident
-The same way you show your support everytime you come to his games to cheer him on
-Overall, he just wants you to feel special and appreciated
-Because you deserve it
-IneedmyselfaBeel
Belphie:
-He feels like absolute shit
-Becuase he’s well aware he‘s called you a few...not so nice words in the past
-Back then, he only thought he meant everything he said but now that he’s hearing you accept his insults and actually repeating them yourself?
-It hurts his brain and he wants to smash his head against all four walls of the room for being such a cretin
-You do tell him it’s not exactly his fault you think so badly of yourself
-But he still believes he fueled it
-So now he needs to fix it
-He’s tried everything and I mean everything
-It’s kinda working, slow progress is made which he’s really happy about but you know, it’s gonna take a while
-He finally settles on physical affection as the best way to communicate his gratefulness for you being youself
-Oh, he wasn’t hugging you before? He is now, get your ass next to him and let him cuddle you
-Handholding has increased by 69% in the last month, sorry for the loss of your right hand with how much he squeezes it
-Sometimes, he can’t help but a throw an insult at you in a playful manner, because he’s an asshole
-But he always makes sure you understand that he was just joking
-He’s such a little shit, you would be having a chat with him and you would subtly drop a insult at yourself hoping he wouldn’t notice
-But then he stops dead in his tracks, kisses you, says “Shut up, you’re stunning” and then he goes right back to the previous conversation like nothing happened
-Accept his compliments damn it otherwise he will continue to bug you about it for the rest of the day
-He’s an eboy and he’s a dickhead a times, but he just goes soft for you tbh
-If you’re feeling really bad about yourself, he won’t even say anything
-He will just big spoon you for the next 24 hours, good luck going to the bathroom or any meals during that time
-Because once you’re in his grip, you’re not getting out that easily
-He gets so pissy if anyone says something even slightly negative about you to your face
-One time, a random demon called you stupid in one of the classes at RAD and he was like ‘bïtch excuse me what?’
-Snapped his head around at him and everything
-He would have done something worse but he was lazy and feeling really petty
-So Belphie kicked him in the privates from under his desk like a damn spoiled brat
-And then he turned his head back to you, all smiles and rainbows and puppies
-I’m simping so hard for a fictional character wtf
-I had to write more protective Belphie cuz I can’t find anything of the sort anymore and I need flUFF
(Haha, I don’t know what this post is, my writing has officially taken a shit lmao. Sorry this took so long to finish, I kept going back to edit all of them)
Al~
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fandomfic-galore · 3 years
Text
Training
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Chapter one
Warnings: mafia stuff, drug use, spiked drinks
A/n: this is my first time doing an ABO fic and Mafia fic. But I hope you like it. This is also a very dark fic, as the series progress it will get worse. You have been warned.
Beta: @kalesrebellion
Doubled over, hugging yourself, your whole body was on fire. Your hands wouldn’t stop shaking, your breathing was laboured and tears started to stream down your cheeks. Gasping for air, you needed something, anything to make yourself better. The cold tiled floor beneath your feverish body gave no relief.
Reaching up with your weak hand, you grabbed onto the end of the bath. It took all your strength to pull yourself up. Your feet were planted gently on the ground if you moved too quickly you knew you would fall over instantly.
“Steve?” you choked out a whisper. “Bucky?”
Your call was unanswered. The apartment the three of you had shared was deadly quiet. You could hear a pin drop if you had the strength or energy to do so.
Shakey steps lead you to the sink, turning the faucet of cold water, you gathered the liquid into your cupped hands. Swallowing a breath you rinsed your face. It didn’t make any difference. You still felt like death had run you over with a truck.
A sudden cramp took your breath away, landing on your knees you pressed down on your stomach. At this point, you tried anything to relieve the pain.
“Y/n?” A voice called out.
“Steve,” you whispered before your world went dark.
The soft padding of a towel to your head woke you up. Moaning slightly at the sunlight beaming into your eyes, you blinked them open. Steve, your colleague, your mentor, your knight in shining armour was smoothing out your hair as he dapper your forehead. Offering him a slight smile, his eyes lighting up as he noticed you being awake.
“Buck, she’s awake,” Steve tried not to shout, but his voice carried wherever he was and it sent a shiver down your spine nonetheless.
“Hey doll face, I brought you some tea to make you feel better,” Bucky whispered.
Sitting up you welcomed him and his offering. Reaching out for the cup, with shaking hands.
“Here let me” Steve interrupted, grabbing the cup to help you take a sip. The tea was a secret Barns family recipe that Bucky always said he’d take to the grave. Bucky would make you this tea any time you were feeling crappy, it never failed to make you feel better.
You grimaced a little while taking another sip. “Did you add something new to this Buck?” you asked weakly, before closing your eyes and leaning back into Steve’s strong embrace.
“I uh, had a hard time getting the usual brand of one of the spice blends,” Bucky replied, casting a quick glance at Steve. “Why is there something wrong doll?”
“No, I guess not, just tastes funny, makes me feel all blech.” you said with a weak shrug.
“Maybe you’re allergic to something in it. I’ll try and find the right one as soon as I can sweetheart.”
Bucky reached over the bed, rubbing his hand up and down your arm. His touch was calming and comforting, leaning into his gentle gaze, your eyes began to get heavy again.
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Six months ago
Sitting at the table, you were face to face with the NYC police department most wanted, a notorious Mafia boss named Slick. It never really occurred to you to ask why he went by that name but after meeting him you weren’t sure you really wanted to know.
Slick leaned back in his chair, puffing on a gross cigar. For whatever reason the smell of his stinky cigar made your stomach roll. Steve and Bucky were on either side of you almost silently reminding you to bite your tongue before you said something all of you would regret.
Slick wasn’t an intimidating man you when you looked at him. He was shorter than both men you worked with. He had green eyes that held no soul behind them, his broad shoulders looked out of place and he always seemed to be hunched over. However, his exterior may not have frightened you but this man, this monster was crazy.
“So, when Alphas take the drug they get the best highs of their lives” Slick exhaled a smoke circle and winked at you, it sent a shiver of disgust down your spine.
Steve’s hand grabbed your thigh, squeezing slightly you sent him a look. He shook his head, a silent message between the two of you of not to try anything.
“However” Slicked pipped up, “when a beta takes it, let’s just say it does something completely different. ’ Slick chuckled to himself. “It has no effect on Alpha women though” Putting both feet on the table your eyes grew wide at the statement.
“Well, it’s good that I’m an alpha then” you snapped. Being an actual beta yourself, you had to lie to work for the police force. No one hired betas, so you brought yourself masking tablets. They prevented from you showing as a beta and gave you the scent of an alpha.
Slick laughed at your statement, nodding his head. He pushed two vials of liquid towards Steve and Bucky. “Here try some… don’t worry doll face, no point in you taking any”
Steve and Bucky looked at each other, reaching for the vials your stomach dropped, you had an awful feeling about this. But to not blow your cover, you knew the men had to do this, you knew to keep Slick’s trust the men had to take the drug. In one gulp the drug was gone and both vials hit the table with force, nearly smashing the glass in the process.
Leaving the meeting ten minutes later, you noticed Steve and Bucky started to act very strangely. Both men being Alphas meant the drug would give them the best highs of their lives, however, it seemed to be completely opposite for these two men.
Steve was slurring his words and couldn’t stand up straight, Bucky was curled up on the pavement, hugging himself and arguing that the wind was his enemy and needed to be destroyed. It took all your strength and effort to get both men back to your shared apartment, coaxing them with the promise of food.
Once inside Steve headed straight for the couch throwing himself onto the leather material face down.
“Make it stop y/n. Make the room stop spinning,” Steve whined, shaking your head you headed to the kitchen and grabbed Steve a glass of water. Placing it carefully on the coffee table next to him.
“If the wind doesn’t want to kill me then why is it so cold?” Bucky rushed to you you forced you to look at him whilst he asked his question. Rolling your eyes you shrugged your shoulders.
It took your half and hour of encouraging the boys to drink water and eat a slice of toast before you could put them to bed. You undressed both of them and made sure a glass of water was placed on their bedside table with some aspirin, and a bucket on the floor, just in case they needed it.
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Present-day
Your mind flicked back to the memory of both men being very ill and very annoying to control, however, you guessed it was their turn to look after you. Shuffling back into the person behind you, you decided to finally open your eyes, looking over your shoulder you noticed the messy brown hair of Bucky. Bucky’s eyes caught yours, he smiled sweetly at you and leaned up on his elbow.
“How you feeling gorgeous” Bucky reached up with his hand to your cheek, tracing the outline of your jawline with a gentle touch. Sighing his touch comforted you again.
“A lot better, thank you” You both laid there for what seemed like hours. Not saying a word to each other, Bucky stroking your face, both of you content to be in each others company. Glancing over Bucky’s shoulder only ten minutes had passed before Steve opened the door and offered you breakfast.
Feeling a lot better, the day seemed to run a lot smoother. You weren’t ordered by your mafia boss to do anything so all three you relaxed around the apartment watching movies. Your phone pinned that you had received a new message, grabbing it from the coffee table, your heart dropped.
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Taglist
Everything marvel: @geekandbooknerd @oneoftheprettynerds
Everything @escapingthoughtsandsecrets @foxyjwls007 @xoxabs88xox
Tag yourself
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elysiashelby · 3 years
Text
In Another World - T.Shelby Imagine Ch. 25
Paring: (Eventual) Thomas Shelby x Aliena Welsh (OC)
Fandom: Peaky Blinders
Word Count: 18,006
WARNINGS: Angst, Cursing, Fluff, Continuous First Person to Third Person POV Shifts, ONE! Tom Third Person POV, Self-harm, Alcohol, SMUT! (NSFW): oral sex (female receiving), fingering, penetrative sex, unprotected sex
Summary: It’s March of 1922, Ali’s nearing the end of her stay with the Shelby’s. After years of waiting, she’s finally ready to move on, but will fate let her. 
MASTERLIST  CHAPTER 24.2  CHAPTER 26
A/N: This chapter contains some POV switches as will the next chapter! Y’all know the deal. Black line breaks are there as a warning for the self harm scene. Only 1 ‘n it’s small! 
Smut is finally here! I haven’t written a SMUT scene in forever, so I fear I’m a little out of touch. 
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It’s March of 1922 and things are going great! Well, not really, I had a mental breakdown so... I mean, not as bad as my last one, which was like a year ago. But, I was coming to terms with the fact that I killed someone! Someone who I did not have a paid hit on, but I murdered out of pure hatred. 
So, I had to do some inner reflection on that, and it would have gone a lot smoother if I had chosen to stop doin’ my side job. But I didn’t. I kept on with my “assassinating.” 
So was I really healed? Probably not, but hey! I don’t think about it anymore. I did it, I got away with— let’s move on. The guy was a douche anyway. Probably did society a favor. 
Yeah…
Right now I was cleaning up at Cassie’s flat. The gang was coming over soon, and I had to get the blood of a client off of me. The job was easier than most. I infiltrated another big party, seduced the target, and shot them in the chest and in the head. It’s a rule of thumb I have that I took from Zombieland. I got some blowback on me, so that’s why I’m taking a shower.
I’m not in the best of spirits tonight. Why, you may ask? Well, it’s because Michael and Arthur were to be arrested tonight. The only reason I knew was because Moss tipped me off. He caught me while I was visiting his wife. He took me aside and told me that Campbell had reason to arrest Michael, and he told me when it was going to take place.
The only reason why he was letting me know was because Campbell had his own plans for me. He didn’t know if Campbell wanted me arrested, but if I was on the scene— I was to be taken in. 
Let me tell you, I was so fucking proud of myself for befriending Moss’s wife! The single best thing I ever did. I mean, I knew I would be “bailed out” in no time thanks to all my rich mates, but Michael would still be in the clink. I think. I could ask around for some connections, if I needed to or was asked.
But, yeah. Michael and Arthur were being arrested tonight while I was at Cassie’s. Of course I felt guilty that I couldn’t prevent it, but it’s not like I could in the first place. That would mess with the timeline too much. 
Eventually, I got out of the shower, dried off, and put on my underwear. I’ve been trying to get more comfortable with my breasts, so I haven’t been wearing my bra to bed. In nothing but my towels and underwear, I walked out into the room.
“So,” I began while walking over to the bed, where I had my clothes laid out. “What’s on tonight’s agenda? Some heavy flirting? A therapy session? Or some good old fashion gambling?”
Cassie giggled, a pillow in her grasp as she threw open her arms. “All of it, babes!”
I chuckled. “That’s what I like to hear.” I dropped my towel and put on my dress. It was a velvet robe-like dress. Very flowy and comfortable, though it had a deep v-neck. Again, trying to get comfortable with my tits. Luckily, this process has been going on for a while and Dougie and Horace are now used to seeing a bit of my cleavage.
The pair do not regard me as anything more than a mate. Dougie is like my male twin flame while Cassie’s my female twin flame. They just match my vibe so fucking well! While Horace...well, he only has eyes for Angie. We bond pretty well academically, though. He answers a lot of questions I have pertaining some of the hypotheticals I conjure while writing.
After I put on my dress, I lotioned up my legs and arms before moving on to caring for my hair. I was brushing it out when the gang came in.
Dougie came up to me and kissed my temple before heading toward the table with the rest of the group. I hurriedly scrunched up my hair as I desperately wanted to join the conversation in fear of being left out. 
I threw my hair towel aside and quickly shuffled to the table. Cassie saw me coming and got up from her seat.
While beckoning me to her, she said. “Ali, c’mere.” 
I sat in her chair and once I was settled down, she sat on my lap. I sighed before asking, “So, what are we playing first?”
Cassie was sitting on my lap sidesaddle. She reached over on the table to the carton of ciggies that someone had thrown, tapped it on the bottom before pulling two out. 
With a ciggie hanging from her mouth, Angie replied while shuffling the cards. “We decided on Go Fish. Your favorite.” She winked at me and I returned it.
I giggled before accepting the ciggie Cassie held for me. She rested hers on her lip and just as she went to lit it— Dougie leaned over to us.
“Here, just use mine.” He said while pressing the end his ciggie to hers. 
Muffled, Cassie replied. “Thanks.” She looked back to me, took my face in her hands, and connected the ends of our ciggies. Basically, repeating what she’d just done with Dougie.
I swear to God, this group is so sus. And I think I’m partially at fault for how close and open the group is. I’m sorry, okay, I’m a physical person and I cut through the bullshit with the people I hold dear!
Angie dealt the cards, and I slid them closer to my face. I was exhaling when Cassie decided to start the conversation flow again.
She asked. “So Tina, how’s your married man? What was his name again?”
Tina tsked, a scowl on her face. “Darren, his name’s Darren. And, he’s fine...”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just fine? Who the hell’s starting?”
Angie cleared her throat. “I dealt so Douglas goes. Cassie’s sitting in your lap, so either you or her is next and vise versa. Then, Tina goes and finally Horace before me.”
I nodded as a quiet “oh” escaped my mouth. I looked back over at Tina.
Tina replied. “Yes, just fine.”
“So, has he filed for a divorce from his wife? Any sevens?” Dougie asked.
Horace and Angie gave him their cards.
Tina pouted, her arms crossing defensively. “He—! He’s been avoiding the question.”
All of us shared a glance and some of us hummed.
Dougie asked. “Any fives?”
“You know, statistically and due to England’s current standpoint on divorce— Darren is less likely to actually ask his wife for a divorce. There is an even lesser probability that the divorce would even be granted in a court of law—” 
The four of us girls shouted. “Go fish!”
“--because we’re obsessed with this “Christian purity.” And, his wife would have to be the adulterer. And as it stands right now only he has—!” Horace was spewing before he was cut off. His face contorting in pain before hunching over. 
Collectively, we all glanced at Tina, who was not holding up well. 
This was not going good, and the urge to tell her that I told her so, was not helping. She should just dump him, but eh, who was I to judge? 
I cleared my throat before holding my ciggie away from my lips, and asking through an exhale, “Anyone got any Queens?”
Cassie didn’t hesitate to give me two. I took the two I had in my hands and laid the four cards on the table. 
“Anyone got any nines?”
Angie threw one of her cards to me. Cassie passed it to me before looking over to Tina.
She said. “Well, Tina. Whatever you decide to do, we’ll support you. If ya want to stay with him, or leave him. We’ll be right here for ya.” 
All of us tried comforting her ‘n all we managed to get was a small smile in return. It didn’t reach her eyes, I knew that. However, I really wanted to have a good time so I was looking to change the subject. 
‘Just—! Anyone please talk about anything else!’
As I inhaled, I asked. “Any threes?”
“Go fish!”
I tsked.
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I was laying down on the floor with Horace. Our arms were extended up in the air and we laid opposite to each other, if that made sense. Like basically, our heads were right next to each other. 
Our arms were in the air because I was playing with Horace’s fingers. Angie, Tina, Cassie, and Dougie were either sitting on the sofas/couches, or somewhere else in the room. He was a little drunk and wanted to calm down, so I offered to stay with him.
“So, how are things going with Angie, buddy?” I asked while still playing with his fingers.
He sighed and then chuckled. “Better. I think she… I think she’s beginning to like me back.”
I hummed and chuckled under my breath. “Well, don’t get too cocky there. She’ll knock back down a peg or two if she finds out that you’re feeling like that.”
Horace scoffed. “Don’t I know it. Hey! The only way she’d find out is if you tell her!”
My eyes widened and I spluttered rolling over to my sides. When I calmed down, I repositioned myself and grabbed hold of his fingers again. I sighed. “Well, that’s true but I promise I’ve never told her a thing.”
That’s a blag, I’m almost certain. It probably slipped from my tongue from time to time. 
I was running my fingertips over his short-cut fingernails while blowing raspberries. I took a deep breath before asking, “Well, you guys went on that date like last week, right? Angie’s told us some things, but how’d it go from your perspective?”
He blew raspberries before replying, “I think it went rather well. I mean she actually paid attention to me this time.”
I couldn’t help but snicker. “Oh my god, Horace!”
“It’s true! This time I felt like she was actually like looking at me. I don’t know. She’s hard to read sometimes, but it’s endearing, really.”
“So, you’re saying that you like the mysterious side to her?”
“Yeah. Yeah, in a way, I am.”
“So, if you discover all there is to her, do you think you will lose interest in her?”
Horace and I grew quiet. His arms flopped down to his side which I repeated. I rolled over to my side, an arm supporting my head as my other hand scratched away at the rug.
Horace mimicked how I was laying, so that we were facing each other, and he sighed through his nose. “I don’t think I’ll ever know everything about her. People typically evolve over time as do their curiosities and interests. So, I don’t think you nor I nor Angie will ever fully know one another. However, to answer your question, no, I don’t think I would lose interest in her even if I knew everything about her. I—! I’ve been in love with her since I was a child, so it would be pretty odd if I were to just lose interest once we were together. I mean, then why the hell did I waste all these years pinning after her. You know?”
I hummed and nodded. “I feel that.” I continued picking at the rug. “Hey, Horace?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, um. Basically, you know what, nevermind, it’s dumb.”
“No, come on. Ask me.”
“No—”
“Just ask me.”
I sighed and looked down. “Well, I wanted to ask you since you’re a guy ‘n all. Um, why doesn’t Tommy like me?”
Horace’s tongue swiped over his bottom lip as he jerked his body around a little. Basically, shaking on his side like a mermaid out of water would, but not as violent. “Now, Aliena. Do you want an honest answer, or do you just want one that will solidify the ideas you already have in your head?”
I chuckled, a small smile spreading across my face before I shouted. “Both!”
Horace rolled over to his back and I inched closer to him. I hovered above him as he spoke. “Okay, then. The honest answer is, well, why does anyone not reciprocate a person’s love? It could simply be because you’re not the person’s type, or there could be any other extenuating circumstance. Why—? Why does Angie not acknowledge my love when I’m obviously ready to give her my all? She just has her reasons. Now, I’m not her nor am I your Tommy, so I can’t speak for him. I don’t know why he won’t look your way. Only he could truly tell you.”
I blinked, my mood souring. I took a deep breath and reached up to fiddle with the collar of his white dress shirt. “And the answer that would solidify my thoughts?” I whispered.
We stared into each other’s eyes as he replied. “You met him too early in life. You met him too early in life, and now all he can see is that 16 year old girl. Not to mention the 12 year age gap! I mean it would probably be nothing, if the both of you had met now, as you are 20 and he’s 32, but you met when you were 16 and 28. I—! Don’t get me wrong a lot of men would have gotten with you being 28 and you being 16. So, regretfully, I have to applaud the man.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s the truth, Ali. Men are—! Men aren’t the best. I’ve learned more than enough of the struggle women go through because of men from Angie, believe me!”
“Oh, I believe you!”
We chuckled before falling to a silence. 
Horace continued. “There’s also your personality!”
My jaw dropped and my face contorted. I smacked his chest as I gasped. “What’s wrong with my personality!”
He raised his arms and tried defending himself from my attacks. A big ol’ smile on his face. “Ali, you’re very affectionate! Do you know that? God, I’d have believed that Cassie would have fought with you if she didn’t know about Tommy. It’s honestly rather settling to know that you actually have your heart set on someone ‘cause you’d have fooled the rest of us!”
I pouted. Still fiddling with his collar, I asked in a childish voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you flirt with everyone in the group. You know that, right? You sit on Douglas’s lap. You sit on my lap! You sit on Angie’s! You kiss us on the cheek. Dougie kisses your cheek or temple. Then, there’s your unique fashion sense. I’m not judging your choice to display what God gave you. Angie would kill me if I did! But, you can even ask Douglas, we—! Well, I! Don’t regard you all that innocent, anymore. If you get what I mean, I—!”
I waved my hands as a way to stop him from tripping himself over his words even more. “I, I know what you’re trying to say. I get it all the time. Your point is?”
Horace took a deep breath before rubbing his forehead and letting his hand rest there. “Well, don’t you think that a person will just either get used to the affection or eventually grow annoyed by it?”
I’m regretting talking to him entirely.
“I don’t act like that with him, Horace. He’s still my boss, you know. I—! I could never!”
His eyes widened. “O-Oh! Then, disregard that last statement. Uh...”
I mean, but I have thought about that. I debated whether or not my compassion and love for the man was being taken for granted. Well, that he was manipulating me into like placating his feelings. I’m more used to that treatment coming from girls. You know, they act like they’re sad just so that I can comfort them— that sort of thing! I don’t deny that it’s crossed my mind.
Horace cleared his throat. “Well, then, perhaps he’s the sort of man that can’t handle you. You’re very independent and upbeat. I mean you can be serious when the moment calls for it, but you’re quick to giggle. Maybe he just wants a damsel in distress. Maybe he wants a more serious, proud woman. Proud being opposite to your “down to earthness.” Is what I’m trying to say.”
I snickered. “Uh… Right, okay? That was a whole lot in a small package. Um, right, okay then! Well, thank you for giving me your most honest answers, sir.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome, madam.”
I snickered away while cringing and then stuck my tongue out at him. Eventually, we got up from the floor and rejoined the group. We chatted away while sipping our bevvies, and nursed our cigarettes before finding ourselves seated on the couches. 
Tina and Cassie were sitting on the couch opposite to Dougie and I. I was sitting rather close to him with my legs draped over his thighs. His right hand rested on my thigh while I ran my fingers through the back of his hair. 
Ah! I see what Horace was talking about. Yeah, all those Tik toks ‘n shit are coming back to me. Maybe I should ask Cassie how she feels about my touchiness? Oh, I definitely should. Great! Fucking dammit! Why did my love language have to be physical touch? 
He was telling me about his week when Angie’s voice was growing increasingly more loud by the second. She was pacing back ‘n forth in front of Horace, who was sitting on the arm of the couch.
Angie groaned exaggeratedly before snapping her fingers and shouting, “Ali, Ali! What about your opinion, eh? How do you feel living in these times while looking the way you do? Acting the way you do?”
I furrowed my eyebrows and glanced at both Cassie and Dougie. They both gave me shrugs. I sighed before pushing some of my hair away from my face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
With a drink in her right hand and waving about her left, she said. “Well, I mean you don’t conform to beauty standards. Right? Your hair is still very long, you typically wear what you want to wear. You enhance your curves and you know, embrace the waves in your hair. I mean that’s almost the total opposite of the way women dress today.”
I get that I was out of tune with the modern style, but she was making it sound like I was trying to be some sort of trendsetter.
I giggled and waved a hand and dismissed her comment. “I don’t know what to say. I wear what I want to wear. I—!”
“Exactly! Exactly. You wear what you want to wear. And, and you scrap with men. You fight your own battles. I mean—!”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Angie, Angie, wait a minute. I—! Look, we live one life. I intend on living it how I want. That’s all.”
She nodded. “I know! Exactly and that’s what I love about you. You don’t give a damn about what anyone else thinks. You live your life the way you want, and I don’t know... Well, like tell us—! No, tell me how you do all this without worrying about snagging a man.”
Ah! And the other shoe drops. 
I sighed and rubbed my left eye. “Ah, okay. There we go, something I can answer. First and foremost, I dress and act however I want regardless of how a man sees me. How he chooses to warp me in his head, in anyone one’s head, is their problem. I will talk, dress, act, laugh anyway I want because at the end of the day— I have to live with myself and love myself. That’s how I go about my business.”
She began clapping and nodding, her lips pursed. 
Oh god, she was tipsy.
Angie snapped her fingers. “Exactly. And! And the beauty standards men put on us and other women expect each other to uphold is ridiculous. Like how the hell is one figure more attractive than another. Women are—! Women, men, everybody should be appreciated. Why, Why do we have to favor one type more over the other? I-I mean, I understand preferences but to subject people to a set criteria when some of us aren’t even capable of accomplishing that standard. It’s—! It’s preposterous.”
Angie raised her free hand to her forehead and she scratched it. “Take Aliena and Cassie for example, they can’t become more flat-chested. They can’t make them smaller. Nor, nor can they help their curvy figures! Why should society tell them to, you know, bind their breasts or something. Or to hide their figures in loose fitted clothing! They’re beautiful! Beautiful!”
All of us shared a glance at one another before bursting with laughter. We laughed so much that I’m sure all of our stomachs ached in pain. 
Through her laughter, Cassied rasped. “Angie, Angie sit the fuck down ‘n take a breather, hon’! For the love of...”
I chimed in. “Yes, please sit down before you blow a casket ‘n like faint or some shit.”
Angie pouted through a smile and plopped down on the couch. “I’m just saying. I mean Aliena, you exercise, right? Like, you work out in a way that a man does. Not just take strolls or ride bikes.”
I wiped under my eyes before nodding ‘n sniffling. “Yeah, I do. I exercise for myself. I don’t do it to please society or any man. I do it for me.” I shrugged my shoulders and turned my attention back to Dougie’s hair.
Angie snapped her fingers and pointed at me. “Thank you. I love you. Thank you. And that’s why I want to tear down Hollywood.”
“Ah—!” I snickered and shook my head before blowing her a kiss.
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After that fiasco, things called down a bit ‘n I went back to talking to Dougie. He was tapping my thigh when he quickly picked up his head and said, “You know I finished developing the photos.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “The photos…? Oh, shit! The photos! How’d they come out?”
Some weeks ago, Dougie bought this camera and wanted to practice his photography skills. He loved the art, but it could never be his main job, for obvious reasons. His father was passing on the company to him, so we all know how that goes. Anyway, I made the suggestion that the gang could be like his practice models ‘n eventually I got everyone to agree.
It was fun, obviously! I helped position everyone and of course, I had to sneak in some 21st century gestures. I just hated that I wouldn’t be alive to see my grandbabies’ faces. I’ll break the timeline, just for this reason. To fuck with my descendents. 
During the day, we went to an empty grassland area and had like a cottagecore photoshoot. It was fucking fantastic! One thing from my bucket list I was lucky to complete. But at night, it was a more risque photoshoot. And yes, even Horace participated in it. I made him as did Angie.
Dougie smiled and nodded. “I think they came out to be pretty good. I’ll bring them next time. It just slipped my mind today.”
I psh-ed him and shoved his head away from me before throwing my head back in a cackle. We talked a bit more before I beckoned somewhere else. I eventually made it back to Cassie, and I was sitting on the couch while she was on the floor. I was messing around with her hair. Right now, I was making a bunch of braids. 
Cassie was eating some fruit while she was talking to Angie. “Okay, but like who was your first kiss?”
Angie hummed through hooded eyes with an arm hanging in the air. “Oh, it was Tina.”
I spluttered and began spazzing out. I scurried off the couch and started running around the room while shouting over and over again. “No way! No way! No fucking way!”
Cassie joined my freak out session by rolling around on the floor and slapping the couch behind her, where I was previously sitting. When I felt calm enough, I ran back to my spot.
I shouted. “No fucking way!”
Angie chortled. “What? Why is it such a big deal?”
“Uh...” Cassie and I just looked at each other. In an American accent, I said. “Well, I mean. I don’t wanna be a bitch, but like when I felt met y’all… You guys were kinda sus. Like Tina, full truth, I thought you had a humongous crush on Angie ‘n yeah so, um, yeah. Did y’all date or…?”
Angie’s eyes widened and she rose from Tina’s lap, who was stunned, by the way. Angie snatched a pillow from the couch and chucked it at me. 
“She’s. Just. Shy. And we were kids when we just did it! It was innocent.” Angie yelled. 
I cried out when the pillow hit me. Through my laughter, I replied. “I’m sorry!”
Angie huffed as she laid back down on Tina’s lap. “Yeah, yeah. You’re not the only one to think it. People just get the wrong idea. She’s just shy.” Angie reached up and caressed Tina’s face. “Oh, we’ve both kissed Horace, too.”
My jaw dropped and a hand flew over my mouth. I looked at Cassie and Dougie, who were just as shocked as me. I screamed into my hand and began running around the room again, only this time I wasn’t alone. Dougie was running in the opposite direction of me. 
He zipped over to Horace while I tackled Cassie on the couch. Well, I more like got her in a headlock ‘n swung her around a bit as I settled onto the couch. 
Tina groaned, averting her gaze from us before running a hand through her hair. She asked. “Well, who were your guys’s first kiss?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Ugh, I guess my first kiss was with my childhood best friend too. Name was Brooklyn.”
“Mine was with Mary, she was a classmate.” Cassie replied.
Angie tsked. “See a girl, right? Why are you harping on us for?”
Cassie and I just shrugged. It was like we had this silent agreement that we weren’t gonna bring up the fact that we kissed each other on the lips as a greeting and a farewell.
“Hey, do you guys think I would look hotter with blonde hair?” I asked.
They all began telling me what they thought. 
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Later in the night, we just went wild ‘n I was happy for it. Michael and Arthur didn’t cross my mind once. We blasted our records, danced the night away while chatting, drinking, and smoking away.
I was overwhelmed with emotions at the end of the night because—… Because I never thought I would have a friend group like this, and now that I did— it was surreal. I genuinely felt that I wouldn’t be in the mental state I was in, if they weren’t in my life.
They made everything that much better. I was always happy with Tommy, but that feeling was contorting into something else now. You know? It was becoming increasingly more platonic, and as much as that should feel liberating— it frightened me. 
I have a million reasons why I held out for him for this long and why it frightens me so, and I’m not going to dwell on them. To be honest, I think the moment he did reciprocate my feelings and he told me, I probably would numb myself immediately. I would just be in such a state of shock that I’d deny his feelings ‘n just move the fuck on. 
‘I mean that’s what is expected of me, right?’ 
Since I am the way that I am. I can’t just blame it on social media’s influence. I mean when I imagined the scenario I end up cringing a ton, and I send myself into like a “tic fit.” It’s the best I can describe it. 
Anyhow, back to how the night went! We got super drunk, super high, and probably pissed off Cassie’s neighbors but we settled down at like three or four in the morning. The people living downstairs were most likely the most grateful since we were jumping around like crazy people. 
We, collectively, all crawled onto Cassie’s bed ‘n knocked out. I was probably the first to sleep. I’m not going to tell ya a blag. It was completely plausible. But, what I loved most about tonight— it was that I was surrounded by people who loved me. It was warm and I felt safe. Something I wasn’t even able to feel in my own home at times when I was back in my own universe. 
Cassie was the big spoon while I was the little, and Dougie was her big spoon. I made sure to avoid being in the middle anymore. I talked to Cassie and she was fine with my touching. She said I showed her the same amount of attention, and she knew I didn’t fancy him— so we were good.
However, I didn’t want to interfere with a perfectly good moment. So, I chose to be on the outside while Cassie was in the middle. Yeah, that didn’t stop her from cuddling me instead. I was too intoxicated and tired to tell her to cuddle Dougie instead.
When I woke up, I found it to be fairly early in the morning because the sky was grey. There’s a difference to the 6 am sky and the 8 am sky, okay! I didn’t get up right away. I wanted to savor the tranquility that surrounded me for a little while longer. But like all sweet things, they must come to an end.
My guess is that I was probably stirring around too much by accident ‘n woke up Cassie, who inadvertently awoke Dougie. I tried coaxing her back to sleep, but it was too late for the both of them. Begrudgingly, I inched my way off the bed and strolled over to the table.  
Dougie was right behind me. I could hear his loud yawn from behind me, and then his hands gently fell on top of my head. My head bobbled as he kissed the top of my head. 
“Mornin’, Ali.”
I smiled and while my head did a little dance, I replied. “Morning, Dougie.”
He pulled out a chair for me before going to sit on his own. While gripping the arms of the chair, I scooted closer to the table. I craned my head back to see Cassie on the phone, no doubt ordering food. 
We really didn’t begin talking till the food came. I think we were just still sleepy, but food and orange juice helped. Horace was the first to get up ‘n he attacked the bacon. Then, it was Tina and finally, Angie. Who was very grumpy, by the way. So not happy about being awake.
I don’t know how it happened, but eventually we broke out into a food fight. It was awesome.
“Oi! Fucking watch it!” I exclaimed as I narrowly dodged a ketchup covered egg. I knew it was covered in ketchup ‘cause I saw Tina drown them in it. I grabbed a syrup-soaked waffle and chucked it at Dougie.
It got him right on the side of his face. He exclaimed and his face contorted in disgust. My mouth immediately contorted into deep frown ‘n my eyebrows raised, and when his crazed eyes found mine— I gasped. My gasp was so deep like a man’s that I hurt my throat doing it. 
I held my hands up as I croaked. “Wait.” He inched closer to me. “Wait! Wait!” I turned my back and started running. Something you should know about me, I never liked being chased. It gave me another type of anxiety and happiness— it was so weird. 
Eventually, Dougie caught me and we started wrestling with each other. Through our grunts, I heard the phone ring and Cassie hopped across the room to get to it. She landed on the bed and crawled to the phone. While sitting on her knees, she answered the phone.
I turned my attention back to Dougie and tried crawling away from him as he attacked my sides. It wasn’t my tickle spot, but I laughed at the pain of his fingers digging into my sides, nonetheless. 
“I’m sorry!” I yelled. “I’m sorry! I give, now cut it out.” 
Dougie loosened his hold and sat up on his knees, flipping his bangs to one side as he did so. I didn’t hesitate to get up on my feet. 
“Never!” He shouted. “You got syrup on my face.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I playfully yelled as I charged at him ‘n I barely managed to get him into a headlock when Cassie shouted for me. She motioned the phone toward me, and my smile dropped as did my hold on Dougie.
I walked over to the phone and brought it to my ear. While taking some of the hair that fell into my mouth, I said. “Hello?”
“Aliena, love.” Polly sniffled before continuing, “Thank god you’re alright. Um, I need you to come home, darling.”
“Polly, you’re crying. What’s happened?” I’m only half-ashamed to admit that I was exaggerating my concern. Hard to actually experience when I already knew what was up.
“It’s Michael. He’s been arrested. You need to come home to the house in Small Heath. We’re gonna have a family meeting.”
“Is Tom there yet?”
Polly sniffled again before replying, “No, not yet. You still have time before it begins, so come quickly. Love you.”
“Love you too. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I hung up the phone and looked back at my mates. They were all looking at me concernedly. I waved my finger around before finding the words. “I, uh… I need to go. Cassie, can you tell Simmons—!”
She nodded. “Of course.” Cass instantly grabbed the phone and began calling him. 
I glanced at my mates one more time before walking over to the closet. I put on this off-white frock with some black heels. I didn’t fix my hair up or put on any makeup. I just packed up my things, threw on my coat, and hurried out the door. I bade everyone farewell before leaving.
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I ran out of the car and into the house. I threw my backpack on the couch before shouting, “Polly, I’m here!”
Faintly, I could hear Polly gasp and then we met each other halfway in the kitchen. She pulled me into a hug and squeezed the breath right out of me. 
“Thank god!” She said. “Thank god you’re okay.” Polly parted from our hug ‘n began stroking my hair and face. 
Footsteps coming from my right caught my attention, and I hugged Finn, John, and Esme as they came up to me. All us exchanging words about how we were all glad that one another was okay. John caught me up to date as Polly was fawning over me. 
She couldn’t stop stroking my hair and kissing my temple. I didn’t mind it, but everything she did was exemplified since I wasn’t used to this sort of treatment from her. Well, I was ‘n it always happened in some sad event in our lives, and that’s probably what’s upsetting me the most. 
I managed to get her to sit down, and smoked a ciggie with her. Tom sure took his time coming home. It took him, perhaps, twenty to thirty minutes later before he strided through the kitchen and into the shop. 
I stubbed my ciggie out, just as Tom said. “John?”
“Coppers have lifted 10 of our men in Camden town, the rest of them on the run.” He replied.
Finn added. “Tom, they've taken Michael.” 
Polly rose from her seat and walked closer to the family and I followed suit, taking the opposite door to lean on. 
Tom waved Finn off saying, “Business first.”
“They took Michael— ”
“I said business first.”
“They picked him up—!”
“Polly, business first!”
‘Great! Went from having an awesome time last night to an anxiety ridden morning. I love my life. Wow, way to make it about myself. I’m amazing!’
Tom gave Pol one last look before asking John to continue. Polly looked vulnerable. She looked, sorry to say, pitiful. She was desperate to help Michael, but— obviously, Tom had an agenda he was intending to follow.
John continued. “They took all our whisky. So no doubt they'll be supping that for Christmas. They've impounded all our vans, put their own locks on the warehouse. The Eden Club and all our pubs have been raided by the coppers and handed back to Sabini and Solomons. The Black Country boys think it was Arthur who killed Billy because that's what the coppers told them. So there'll be no more free passes for our whisky boats.”
“I don't give a fuck about whisky. I don't give a fuck about Billy Kitchen.” Polly said as she walked over to the table and began to lightly slam her hand down on it as she spoke, “I want my son out of prison now.”
Esme decided to speak up, at the wrong time. “Thomas, I spoke to Johnny Dogs.”
“This meeting should just be family.” Polly insisted.
‘Ah—! Ma’am, the fuck does that make me? Oh, wait, family! You, idiot, you.’
“I can help.”
“-It's family only, she's not blood.”
“Let her speak.” Tom interjected, but Polly kept on going.
“Tommy! Or is this a business… How you forgotten family—!”
“ENOUGH!”
My hand flew to my mouth and I swear to God, my heart sank to my arse. ‘Holy fuck is the wrong, but holy hell is it erotic!’
I was given the side eye by multiple people in the room, and I quickly numbed my feelings. Faster than I ever had to before. I stood up straight and cleared my throat.
Tom looked back at Polly as he said. “Enough, Polly. Esme.”
“I spoke to Johnny Dogs. The Lees are kin.”
“The bloody Lees!” Polly exclaimed
“They can give us men.”
“We don't need more fucking men! It's men that have done the damage! It's… It is men fighting like cockerels that have put us here in the first place.”
Tommy said. “Esme, I'll take up their offer. We need men.”
There was this pregnant silence that stilled between all of us, and it made me bounce on my heels. 
Polly pointedly stared at Tommy, inching closer to him as she said. “If Michael ever gets out of prison, I am taking him away from this family, for good.” She took a step back from Tom and waved her hands around her. “This life is bad.”
Polly walked over to Finn ‘n grabbed him by the arm. “This life is all bad.” She began dragging him away and made a beeline for me. Pol gripped my arm ‘n began pulling me away too.
“Ah!” I exclaimed as my feet skidded across the floor.
“Aunt Pol, what’re you doin’?” Finn cried out as we were both being tugged away.
“Shut up and walk.”
I managed to crane my head back for one last look at Tom before Pol had tugged Finn and I out of the house. Tommy didn’t meet my gaze. 
Polly ushered us in her car and drove us to the house in Sutton. She ordered us to stay in the house, but I knew where she was going. I saw her make a call, which went on for sometime, before she darted for the door. 
I think she was calling Ada.
I grabbed her arm as she turned to leave. “Polly, wait! Where are you going?”
She sighed before taking my face into her hands. “I’m going to go see if I can get my son out by myself. Thomas isn’t going to help, so I’m doing this on my own.” Polly stroked the side of my face as she looked into my eyes.
“Don’t go...” I whispered.
Pol sucked on her teeth before shaking her head. I gripped her wrists as they were still close to my face and said. “I can—! I can call someone. My mates can help. They’re Michael’s mates too, so I’m sure they won’t mind.”
She shook her head and gently tugged her hands away from my face. I let her wrists go without hesitation. With one hand on my shoulder, and the other waving around as she talked, she said. “No. No, I can’t have your friends knowing about this side of the family. They’re different from us ‘n they need to have the best image of you they can. I will deal with this on my own. I will deal with this on my own as I’ve always done.” 
Polly quickly kissed my forehead and left just as I was about to continue to beg her not to. I ran after her, but my reaction time was a little too late since she was already in the car. I shouted after her, but she took off.
I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t—! I couldn’t interfere when she didn’t want me to, so I just walked back into the house ‘n focused on taking care of Finn. We spent our time talking and playing card games. I finished making our lunch when Ada showed up. I knew she’d show up. ‘Cause of the episode, of course. 
She brought Karl, which made everything better ‘n brighter for a while.
I  spent time playing with the baby and catching up with Ada. Eventually, I left Ada alone with Finn since I’m sure she’d wanted to talk to him alone. I had the maid make dinner ‘n eventually sent Finn’s lanky butt up to a room. Had the maid prepare it for him beforehand.  Ada and I talked into the night till Karl grew tired. 
She took another room and retired for the night. On the other hand, I only went up stairs to change into something more comfortable, then I went back down to wait for Polly to come back home. I basically wore a nightgown and put my hair into a ponytail. 
I knew Polly was going to want to take a bath ‘n I wanted to be the one to help her. It was only right since she’d helped me when I needed it. 
I hated myself. I hated myself. I could’ve tried harder. I could’ve used better words to persuade her. I could’ve—!
Polly stumbled in at around eleven o’clock at night. I sprang up from the couch ‘n she didn’t even make a fuss about the fact I was up. Pol stumbled into my arms with the stench of alcohol on her breath. 
“Ali my love!” She slurred as she leaned all her body weight on me.
I muffled a groan as I held her up. 
Polly picked herself up a bit and slapped her hands on my face. I flinched at the force she put behind it. 
“Beautiful...” She whispered. “Absolutely beautiful...” Her thumbs roughly wiped the space under my eyes. Bringing them up and down and stretched back. 
“Polly,” I whispered. “What’s happened?”
Her head jerked back and she stumbled away from me. Averting my gaze, she replied. “Is done. Michael with—! Michael will be out within, at, in the morning.”
I smiled and clapped my hands in front of my mouth. “That’s great news, Polly!”
She smiled and nodded, drunkenly. Like she was nodding like a bobble head, someone who wasn’t in control of their motor functions. Polly’s gaze drifted to the side and she pointed to the tub. “Were you gonna take a bath?”
I shook my head. “Oh, no. I thought about it, but then I was waiting for you to come home. I had the fire lit. Why? Did you want to take a bath?”
Polly stumbled forward and gripped my arms, steadying herself before she nodded. “Yes. Yeah. Ali, darling, can you be so kind… And help me?”
I nodded, my eyebrows furrowing in concern. I ran to the kitchen and filled up the bucket for hot water. This house actually had a water heater ‘n that meant hot water from the tap. I had to make a few trips back ‘n forth but it was quicker than it would’ve been at the other house. 
“Alright, all done.” I turned back to Polly, who was sitting on the couch as she gazed into the fire. Her head shot up when I spoke. I turned around as a way to give her the privacy she needed to undress. 
I could sense her walking toward the tub and I turned my body more to the left while closing my eyes. Slowly, I got down to my knees ‘n sat on them. I wanted to give her the respect she deserved. The water sloshed as she dipped her body in the tub.
“Can you pass me the soap and sponge, love?” Polly asked me.
My eyes fluttered open instantly and I crawled to where I had placed the body soap and sponge earlier. I reached up for them and then crawled back over to her before giving them to her.
I sort of just sat there as she bathed herself. Her movements were sluggish and looked to be done with great difficulty. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted to pry. I wanted her to open up to me and just cry about it. I didn’t want her to keep it in. However, I knew that was wrong, so I just picked at the carpet below me. 
Eventually, I couldn’t stand doing nothing and I asked her if I could shampoo her hair. She gave me a sloth-like smile and gave me permission. I reached up for the shampoo, took off my sheer robe, and shuffled on my knees around the tub. 
Polly leaned forward to give me some room. I scooped up some of the water from the tub using the pitcher and poured it along her hairline, slowly making my way to the back of her scalp. 
Shampooing someone else’s hair was always something comforting to me. I did Cassie’s hair all the time as she did mine. It was a type of intimacy that was more innocent than others types. 
I began humming something from Billie Holiday. I didn’t know the song by heart, but I knew some of the words ‘n rhythm enough. I was rinsing her hair when Polly’s shoulders began to shake. Muffled sobs escaped her nose as she shakily took deep breaths. 
I didn’t know what to do or say. I didn’t know if it was appropriate to touch her and hug her, so I asked. I asked if it was alright if I hugged her. Like a child, she nodded through her sobs. 
I hugged Polly from behind. She was wet, I knew that. I was painfully aware of the new sensation of my dress sticking to my body and her cold hair against my cheek. Everything in my being was screaming and begging me to launch myself backward, away from her— but my heart was pleading for me to do the opposite. 
My heart wanted to absorb her pain, and it was my heart that won. I choked back my tears. I didn’t have the right to shed them. I could’ve saved her from this pain. I could’ve prevented this. But, ultimately when I blinked, they slipped down my cheeks. 
I didn’t pry, I stayed true to my word. We composed ourselves simultaneously and silently. 
“Love?” 
I wiped my nose on my arm before answering, “Yes?”
“Can you get me a cigarette? They’re in my purse.”
I nodded as I muttered. “Of course.” I rose to my feet and walked over to her purse, which was on the sofa. I put one in my mouth and lit it. With it still hanging off my lips, I took a quick puff as I grabbed the ashtray. I placed it on the stool that had the soaps on top, and then passed Polly her ciggie.
I walked back around to the chair that was behind her ‘n admired the fire crackling. Ada came in not too long after. I left… 
Truthfully, I didn’t know why I left. 
I trudged up the stairs all the way to my room. I closed the door behind me and slid down it.
I felt like a complete piece of shit and hollow and empty. My face scrunched up in a sob, but no tears came out. There was this increasingly more painful headache forcing me to acknowledge it, and with it came anger and annoyance. I wanted to punch the walls. I wanted to throw stuff around. I wanted to kill Campbell for what he’s done to this family.
I wanted his blood. I wanted to slit his throat. I wanted to bite a chunk of his neck out. I wanted…
I heaved a deep breath and found it still difficult to breathe. I crawled forward on all fours with one hand supporting my weight while the other clutched my throat. I took deep breaths till finally I couldn’t take it anymore. 
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I had to release these emotions inside of me. The need to punish myself became overwhelming, and my eyes flickered to the suitcase that laid under my bed. 
I shook my head. ‘I couldn’t afford any marks’ I thought. 
With my other job, my body is a tool ‘n any harm to it hinders my ability to get it done. 
So, I yanked the straps of my gown down and let it fall under my waist. Ferociously, I began to claw away at my neck, arms, and stomach. The burn. The burn was what I needed. 
And when I stopped, the pain took over but as much as it meant everything— it was also nothing. 
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Slowly, I brought the straps of my gown back up to my shoulders, rose to my feet, and sauntered over to my bed. I climbed in it and just laid there while staring at the lamp that was always on at my desk. I fell asleep, eventually…
The next morning, Polly came into my room ‘n asked if I wanted to come with her to go ‘n get Michael. I felt like she wanted me to go with her, so I said I’d go. While dressing up, I was glad to see that none of the scratches I’d made scarred up. 
I made sure to dress warmly since we would be going out so early in the morning and then we headed off to pick him up. We didn’t make any conversation during the drive or as we waited for him to come out. 
But nothing— and I mean nothing, could tear my eyes away from the scarf around her neck. 
I chose to lean against the wall as we waited while Polly was pacing back ‘n forth on the pavement. When Michael walked out, the first thing I noticed was the ugly bruise on his right cheek. Then, I noticed the little cuts all around his face. The need to comfort him was strong, but he walked straight toward his mother while smoking a ciggie.
“You need cream on them cuts or they'll go bad.” Polly said to ‘em.
Michael didn’t reply. He took a drag before saying, “The screws told me why I've been freed. They told me what you did.”
Polly looked away from Michael. Her gaze found mine, and she hurriedly looked away from me too. Polly stared straight on, instead. 
“They thought it was funny.” He continued. Michael took another puff before he said. “Maybe it is.”
The urge to degrade and make someone cry had never been activated so fast in me before now. I glared at Michael as he walked away. My blood boiled with each step he took.
With my foot, I launched myself away from the wall and walked to Polly’s side. I put a hand on her shoulder and whispered. “C’mon. Let’s go. He probably needs time is all.”
Polly said nothing, but allowed me to lead her over to the car.
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Michael eventually had to come home, and he had the audacity to knock at my door. Of course, I let him in but only to give him a piece of my mind. 
“Do you even know what she did?” He shouted.
“She got you out, didn’t she? Why should you care how?” I shouted back.
“She fucked Campbell to get me out. She prostituted herself!”
I pretended to process it and be shocked before I continued. “And? So fucking what? Who are you to say that it was funny, huh? Fucking bastard! Fucking ungrateful prick!” 
I wanted to put my hands on him so badly, but I resorted to punching my palms repeatedly instead. As well as folding in on myself.
I whipped my hair back and ran a hand through my hair. 
“You’re tellin’ me you don’t see anything wrong with that? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Of course there’s something wrong with that! Campbell abused his position and abused his powers. He raped your mother!”
His face fell.
I scoffed. “Did you actually think I would side with you? Oh, fuck you, Michael. I would’ve done the same for me own son and so much more. She did that out of desperation ‘n fear ‘n pure maternal love! And—! And, you threw it back ‘n her face! I mean look at you, Michael. How much more of that could you have withstood?”
“All of it! I would have taken every beating… Every fucking—!” Michael choked up and rose his fists over his eyes. 
I averted my gaze. My tongue prodded the inside of my cheek as I violently shook my right leg. I tsked before rushing toward Michael and pulled him into a hug. Weakly, he hugged me back. 
Muffled, I said. “I’m not the one who has to forgive you for the things you said, but me and you are not alright right now. And I need you to respect the fact I need some time to process and get over what you said to her. It was very insensitive and I don’t play when it comes to situations like that. I don’t care about the excuse. You should have comforted her or each other when you were given the chance.” I parted from the hug and turned around. 
I didn’t turn back around till I heard my door shut from behind me.
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About a week and a half has passed since Michael’s release and we’re still not on good terms. He hasn’t apologized to Polly for what he said, so obviously I wasn’t going to just sweep that shit under the rug. Little shit would have no idea how much restraint it took to not slap him across the face!
Of course I encourage him to “get it over with” and “clear the air.” But the stubborn twat was like his mum, and he refused to do so. It was like that conversation we had went in one ear and out the other. So, I’ve just steered clear of ‘em. Pissed me off just looking at him.
Anyway, John and I went to visit Arthur in jail. He was pretty rough, but when was Arthur not? We just visited him to see him. Tommy didn’t have a plan drawn up yet. Other than that, I’ve been busy with work. Legit and side hustle alike. 
Since the coppers fucked with the inventory, Tommy needed my help with the numbers and had me running around more often. At the same time, Dom gave me hit orders every other day. 
Some of the hit orders were during the day as well! I had to run off to get that job done, then hurry back to Small Heath. I’m just lucky nobody gets on my arse. Tommy could, no doubt there, but he was busy himself and I got the job done anyway. 
I knew he had some Peaky men or juniors watching me, for my “protection.” I knew they told him what I was doing, where I was going, but they never found out what I did. I had to let Dom know what was going on at home, and he helped me get away from them. 
Was it suspicious? Short answer, yes. 
Not like I could stop the side, though. The second season was coming to an end soon and what happens on Derby Day determines if I’m staying in this family or not. I, myself, don’t even know what to expect. 
I mean, it’s obvious he’s going to sleep with Grace and knock her up. What the fuck did I even want to happen? Did I want him to just confess to me and we get together instead? Well, of course, I want that to happen! But it’s not. And I can’t even see Tommy doing something as cringy as that. Yes, cringy.
The idea of him just springing on a confession on me still made me cringe up. My feelings have never been recuperated, so if they were to finally be mutual— there’s a good chance I wouldn’t have the romantic reaction I would be hoping for. Sad truth, but what could I do? Not like I had control over what my crushes felt. 
So, basically, if Grace is pregnant— I’ll quietly go away. I haven’t brought it up to Cassie yet, but I’m planning on slumming it with her. Just for a while, I know I have enough money to buy a house of my own. I would probably get Dom to do it for me, though, since I had no idea how to do it. 
If Tom tried to find me, then I’d just hide at Dom’s place. I’m sure he’d let me. On the topic of Tom, though— I missed him. Like talking to him, bugging him, and especially seeing his face. I was being deprived of my daily dose of serotonin. It was a crime!
Despite all that, today was a night of relaxation. I’d planned to go out with my mates, but since it’d be too dangerous to go South— they had to come to me. Ridiculous, I know but Tom insisted on the idea the last time I saw him. Even though I’d been going all around the fucking country for a week and a half.
We were in the snug at the Garrison. Smoking a few cigs while sipping on our bevvies. It was a girls’ night despite the fact that Finn was here. Let him have two pints, and that was it. He was still working on his first like a good lad. 
Angie spat. “I mean who the fuck does that bitch think she is? Just because her mum is a famous pianist doesn’t mean she is too! Dumb dora doesn’t know about key or pitch to save her life.”
I raised my eyebrows and slurped my bevvy. I smacked my mouth before asking. “Hey, Ange. How are you and Horace?”
Her movements faltered and a smile crept up on her face. I gasped and my hand shot over my mouth.
“Oh my god! Oh my god, are you two finally dating? Are youse dating?” My hand flew back to Cassie’s arm and I gripped it while shaking her. She was just as excited as I was.
Angie couldn’t meet my gaze to save her life. “I-! We… Yeah, we’re dating. I, I said yes.”
All of us girls squealed and congratulated her. Internally, I was congratulating my boy, Horace. My mans was pinning after Angie since childhood and he finally got the girl. 
Even material to make a story out of, oop! Mayhaps.
She told us how it happened. They had been in a fight since her father secretly set her up on a blind date and he’d caught them as she was out. Horace didn’t blow up on them at the spot, but Angie felt compelled to follow him out the restaurant they were dining in. On the street, he aggressively professed his love and told her he couldn’t bear to beat around the bush anymore. He gave her an ultimatum, and she was thrown off by how assertive he was being. It made her heart flutter, and she confessed she felt the same. 
Another round of squeals at the table, please! Poor Finn, he had to suffer through us. His own fault for volunteering to, like, chaperone me.
The topic changed to the ball Cassie had for her 21st birthday. This happened like a couple of Fridays ago since her birthday was on the tenth of February. It was really extravagant and the theme was like a royal ball. So, we got to dress up in these really amazing ball gowns. I wore this beautiful green ball gown that was most likely akin to 16th century fashion, as one man told me. 
I wouldn’t know the exact period my dress resembled since that wasn’t my area of expertise. Glad the man knew, though!
Cassie tapped me on my arm, her face contorted in confusion. “Ali… What did we do for your birthday?”
I blinked before smiling. “Oh, we didn’t do anything.”
Her face immediately contorted in horror and she looked at Angie and Tina, which of course made me do the same. They had the same expression on their faces.
Tina raised a finger and began wagging it as she said. “Wait a minute… Did we even do something for your birthday last year?”
“Uh...no.” My eyes kept flickering between the three of them and I watched as the horror deepened in their faces.
They began showering me in apologies, and while it did comfort me— it annoyed me at the same time. ‘Like it was too late for apologies since the days already passed. So, like why sweat it now?’
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The girls surrounded Ali and showered her in apologies. Finn watched from the sidelines. He saw the flicker of discomfort on Ali’s face before she began to smile. 
He knew that his family had forgotten about her past two birthdays as well, and he wanted to get something for her. But the last time he did that— he got in trouble for it. So, the best he did was wish her happy birthday. 
“Okay! Okay! We obviously just have to throw the biggest party ever to make up for them both.” Cassie said, her lips pursing as she talked. Tina and Angie nodded, but Ali sighed. 
She shook her head while clutching her forehead. “No. No, it’s alright really. My birthday passed. I don’t need anything.”
The girls dismissed her wishes, which annoyed the crap out of Ali and Finn. 
Ali rubbed her eyes roughly before waving her hands up. “Okay, okay, fine! We can have a little something. It has to be little. I’m not allowed South, so—!”
Cassie cut her off. “That’s completely alright. We can do it here like last time. You know?” She looked around the room. Tina and Angie nodded in agreement. 
Ali thought about it and just succumbed to her mates’ wishes. Ali took a breath and thought about it in a different perspective. Instead of holding onto the fact her birthdays were overlooked, she was just appreciative that they, at least, wanted to celebrate it now.
They girls talked it out and they decided they would reconvene next Friday at the Garrison. Finn was welcomed to join, and the lad was not going to miss it for anything in the world because of what they were planning.
These girls were planning to get “fucked up.” More specifically, Aliena “fucked up.” He had some idea of what that meant, and he knew he wasn’t going to like it. 
Eventually, Finn ended up asking Aliena what that meant, and she told him that her mates basically wanted to get her really drunk. He knew he wouldn’t like it. 
That week Finn, Aliena, and the girls were all just really preparing for the “doomsday.” Aliena was pumped up to have fun with her girls in her honor, and couldn’t decide what she to wear. The girls were trying to find gifts for her birthdays, you know, since they missed two of ‘em. 
While Finn, he was going through it. He was debating so hard whether or not to tell Tom. He didn’t know if he should. He usually would have, but with things being so tense lately— he really didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news or add fuel to the fire. So, he decided against it and was just glad to be invited. He also looked for a gift.
The day of the party both Finn and Aliena visited Tommy’s office. Aliena went to give him his dinner at around 5:30. She had yet to get dressed for the night, but her hair was beautifully done in waves from the braids she made the night before. She had half of it up since if it was all down— her hair would be too poofy.
Aliena knocked on Tom’s door before entering. Tom was finishing up some last minute paperwork. He didn’t tell Aliena, but he was going to Ada’s house to meet up with Grace. She’d called some weeks ago, and Tom was finally available enough to meet her. 
She rested the basket on his desk and moved a piece of her hair away from her face. “Here you go, Tommy. Have a nice night.” 
Tom picked up his head and his eyebrows wanted to furrow as he took in her appearance. Her hair was done nicely and she was wearing a nice outfit. 
Ali had on a white tank top with a sheer white long-sleeved blouse over it and wore a ribbed off-white skirt that hugged her curves. She didn’t think anything of it, but Tom sure did. 
He wondered if she got dressed up for another boy of hers, but then he realized he had no business admiring her or getting jealous. After all, he’d be meeting up with Grace in almost a half hour. 
Tom looked into Aliena’s eyes ‘n noticed she was wearing a bit of makeup and holding a vanilla folder in her hand as well. “Night, Ali.” He replied.
Ali smiled at him, gave him a nod, and knocked on his desk before spinning around on her heels. Ali was almost out the door when her hand knocked into one of the chairs and the contents of the vanilla folder went flying. Ali cursed under her breath and bent down to collect the papers from the ground.
Tom’s eyes never left her arse. Tom recognized that Aliena was blessed with well-endowed features— ample breasts and a large behind as well as thighs. He admired the way her breasts hung from her body as she had to reposition herself to get a paper that had flown under the chair. He admired the arch of her back. 
Tom realized he was acting like a pervert and resituatied himself. He silently cleared his throat and sat up straight while tugging on his pants. Aliena tapped the folder on the ground to straighten its contents before rising from her knees. 
She smiled at him, sheepishly, as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “Sorry ‘bout that, Tommy. Good night.”
Tom repeated the phrase under his breath and Aliena made it out the door without a mishap. 
Finn came in not five minutes later, passing Aliena on the way to the office. He walked straight into Tom’s office. 
Tom’s head shot up and he didn’t hesitate to begin speaking, “Finn, I want you to look after Aliena tonight. I’m going over to Ada’s and I don’t know when I’ll be back.” Tom had risen from his seat as he spoke. Putting on his coat and cap. 
Tom walked over to Finn and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Alright?”
Finn nodded. “Yeah, got it.”
Tom nodded and began walking ahead of his little brother, but then turned around all of a sudden. Tom pointed toward his desk ‘n said. “Oh and eat that for me, yeah? Aliena made it so… It should be good.”
Finn chuckled and took his brother up on the offer. He’d been starving.
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Aliena rushed home and practically inhaled her meal. She didn’t want to eat, but since was planning to drink till her liver bursted— she didn’t want to knock out on the third drink. After eating, she hauled the tub to her room and took a bath.
Aliena decided tonight was the night. 
She wasn’t going to wait for Tommy anymore. 
She’s been building up to it and she didn’t care anymore. Virginity was just some societal construct anyhow. Plus, she wouldn’t tell anyone but she owned a dildo in her other universe ‘n yeah… 
Aliena just assumed this body, that was very fucking different, had it’s hymen, so…
She freshened up and shaved her vagina. Not for the poor guy she was going to use, but for herself. Aliena was big on, “you like me for me or you can fuck off.”
Don’t worry Ali had her hair all tied up away from the water and when she was done— all she had to do was dry her body off.
Ali kept her towel on as she did her makeup. She kept it light and noir like she did for the Garrison’s reopening. After makeup, she slid on her dress. The best Ali could describe it was a loose body con dress that had ruffles that reminded her of a curtain. It was sky blue ‘n fit with the times. 
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Ali took down her hair once she was done putting on her dress. She tried her best to keep her waves, but they had ultimately lost most of their volume throughout the day. Aliena tried to not let it bother her. She put on her heels, grabbed a matching clutch, and her white fur coat. 
Aliena walked over to Finn’s room ‘n knocked on his door, asking if he was ready. He didn’t answer from his room, but from downstairs. Aliena hurried down the flight of stairs, joined their arms once she was down, and then they were on their way to the Garrison. 
Isaiah met them on the way, which was a pleasant surprise. Finn had invited him along ‘n of course Aliena wouldn’t mind. She hadn’t seen him in a long time, and she figured it was due to the business. 
Aliena was escorted with two men around her arms to the Garrison and she chatted with them the whole way. She was all smiles and it warmed both the men’s hearts. More so Finn than Isaiah. 
When they got to the pub, they instantly walked to the snug. They quickly seated themselves down ‘n got comfy. Isaiah ordered their bevvies from the window and they were served not too long after. 
The gang couldn’t have gotten there not twenty minutes later. Their hands were occupied with gifts ‘n the boys were carrying the cake. Aliena couldn’t feel more loved ‘n appreciated. She greeted her mates with kisses and hugs ‘n thanked them for the party. 
Aliena ended up thanking Douglas and Horace for showing up and for their gifts separately since she wasn’t expecting them. First manner of business was the birthday cake. Horace revealed this magnificent simple cake that had twenty candles around it.  
Ali couldn’t stop covering her face as she smiled. She tried reeling in her emotions, but she never could act “right” when people sang her happy birthday. For her birthday wish, she wished that she’d continue on working on her happiness. 
Before having a piece of cake, Aliena opened her presents. Cassie gave her another set of expensive jewelry that was to die for! Ali loved it! Douglas gave Aliena a new pair of shoes, a clutch, and a purse. While it wasn’t to die for, Aliena appreciated it since after all he didn’t even ask her what she wanted. It was ballsy to get a gift for Ali without talking to her first since her face usually gave her true thoughts away.
She’s worked on that since she was young, but sometimes it will show. Hasn’t happened yet, but doesn’t mean it won’t.
Angie gave Aliena more designer clothing while Horace bought her a typewriter. She absolutely gushed over their gifts, especially the typewriter. Tina’s present was Pride and Prejudice, Anna Karenina, Little Women, Romeo and Juliet, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Aliena loved the fact that Tina gave her books. Truth be told, she hasn’t really read a book unless they were someone else’s. 
Isaiah didn’t have a gift, so we can skip over him. Finn, on the hand, did. Ali was a little apprehensive about it since last time he got her a gift, he would’ve caught a charge if he was anyone else. It was a big box, too. Aliena shook the lid off the box to find a box of items packed inside. There were about five different shades of lipstick, two bottles of perfume, and a whole lot of makeup. 
Ali couldn’t help but be in awe at the gift. She hugged Finn and thanked him for something so wonderful ‘n thoughtful. Finn was able to let go of the breath he was holding and felt extremely happy that she loved her gift. Swear, the boy had a smile for a majority of the night.
The minute Aliena was done opening her gifts, the real party began. Finn watched as Aliena and her mates took shot after shot after shot. He participated a bit himself, but out of conditioning from Aliena— he took his time. Isaiah was faring no better. He’d received the same order as Finn. His sole duty tonight was to protect Aliena ‘n the way she was drinking— he had a bad feeling something was gonna happen.
Eventually they made their way out of the snug ‘n began dancing more freely. Isaiah expertly manipulated Ali into only dancing with their mates. The minute she tried catching the eye of literally anyone else, he’d step in. 
Out in the city, he had no problem with who she danced with or who she made out with. In Small Heath, his and every other person’s eyes were at stake. But more importantly, his eyes were at stake!
Truthfully, Aliena wasn’t actually drunk— she was buzzed! But, she wasn’t drunk. She was mimicking Cassie’s behavior, who was on a completely different level drunkenness than her. She did it in a sense of solidarity and recklessness. She felt that since they were celebrating her birthday, since it was her night— she should be able to act freely. Especially when she was trapped in Birmingham per Tommy’s orders. 
Aliena was getting bored with just dancing and began to sing. She sang ‘Ain't No Other Man’ by Christina Aguliera. At first, it was just the mates who were aware that she was singing, but then other patrons heard her voice. Aliena was lifted in the air by a particularly strong ‘n tall patron and he set her down on the bar top. 
Aliena “under the influence” began to sing as clearly as she could and belt as loud as she could, as much in tune as she could manage. 
Not like they would know if she butchered the song or not.
Finn, who watched all of this go down, had enough. In his opinion, Aliena had gotten out of control ‘n it was out of his hands. So, he decided to get the big guns involved.
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His senses were filled with her. Her perfume, the texture of her dress, the taste of her lips and the feeling of pressing them against his own. 
So, what had changed for him?
Tom wondered why her kiss didn’t set him aflame like it did months ago. 
“Tommy. Tommy, do you have someone?” She asked him. 
Tom kissed Grace again. 
“It's too late, Tommy.”
“It's 11:00, Grace.”
“I mean, it's too late. If you'd come with me to New York...”
“I had things to do.” He kissed her again, searching for that feeling. That feeling of completion and—! And wholeness.
“You mean the coin landed the wrong way?”
“It couldn’t have worked. That was the question.” Their lips met once more ‘n fiercer this time ‘round.
Grace parted from the kiss and breathily asked. “Tommy… Tommy, do you have someone?”
‘Yes?’ He thought as the memory of Aliena looking back at him at the park flashed in his mind. Tom took a deep breath. “I have a racehorse. She’s gonna win the Derby.” He said. Tom joined their lips again and this time— they didn’t part after a few seconds.
Tom was desperately seeking that feeling of passion, but he figured he was gettin’ into his own head by rushing it. So, he took it slow. Grace slipped down the sleeves of her dress, and it hardly did anything for him.
It aroused him, of course, but—! It wasn’t the same. It was akin to the times he’s laid with a prostitute. 
‘You’re getting in your head, Tom. The feeling will come back. Take your time.’ He told himself. He led her backward toward the couch, his lips never parting from hers. 
The more time he spent kissing her, the more that pit in his stomach grew. 
That feeling wasn’t coming back. 
Tom trailed down to her neck, and he paid attention to Grace there before going back to her lips.
‘Nothing. Nothing. Nothing! Give it some fuckin’ time, man!’
Then by the grace of God, the phone started going off. Tom parted from the kiss ‘n Grace’s hands flew to his face.
“Let it ring.” She rasped while trying to pull his face back to hers.
Tom never averted his gaze from the phone ‘n it didn’t stop ringing either. Annoyed, he got up from the couch and walked over to the telephone.
Tom had barely gotten the address out when Finn’s voice cut through the phone. “Tom, Tommy, are you there?”
“Finn, what’s happened? What’s wrong?” Panic overwhelmed his being and Tom began buttoning up his shirt.
The pub could be heard through the phone and Tom swore he could hear Aliena, but he thought he was just imagining it. 
Finn cleared his throat. “Uh, Tom, it’s Ali. She’s kinda going outta control right now.”
“You are there when I'm a mess
Talk me down from every ledge
Give me strength, boy, you're the best!
You're the only one who's ever passed every test!” 
Aliena’s belting could be heard from over the phone ‘n Tom sighed, exhaustedly. 
Finn continued. “She’s dancing and singing on top of the bar at the Garrison. I just—! I don’t know. I thought you should know. I don’t know what to do! Do I just let ‘er or—?”
Tom exhaled deeply as he rubbed his forehead. “Finn, all right, calm down. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Get her off the fucking bar top ‘n make sure she doesn’t do anything else.” He hung up the phone, turned around, and faced Grace.
She looked confused with her eyebrows drawn together and Tom was half surprised to see that her dress was still down. 
“Tommy,” She began. “What’s happened?”
Tom blinked before replying, “I, uh, I have to head back to Birmingham.”
“What?” She asked softly as she rose to her feet and slipped her sleeves back over her shoulders. 
Tom began putting his coat on as he said. “I can drive you, if you’d like, or you can call a Taxi.”
Grace scoffed while shaking her head. “You're serious, Tom?”
Tom looked at her like she stated the obvious and gave her a curt nod. “Yeah.”
Grace’s jaw dropped a little as did her head. She picked up her head, steeled her gaze, and stood up straighter. “I can find my own way back.”
He nodded again before motioning her to follow him out the door. 
The night didn’t go as he’d planned. But he had more important things to worry about. 
‘Fucking Aliena!’
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Aliena was just glad she was able to finish her song before Finn and Isaiah pried her off the bar top. She had her little moment ‘n that’s all that mattered to her. ‘Cause she managed to get the attention of most of the lads in the pub.
Some were just staring at her from afar while others actually walked up to her. But they only managed to get a few words in before they were run off by Isaiah. At first it was cute. Yes, Aliena thought it was cute that Isaiah was scaring off the blokes that approached her— but then it got annoying. 
Why? Because he was ruining her fucking plan to lose her viriginity tonight!
“I’ma tell ya right now, mate. You either piss off or you’re losing your eyes, which one are you gonna pick?” Isaiah threatened the man in front of him.
The man scoffed and was about to say something when Isaiah reached up for his peaky cap.
“One...” Isaiah said ‘n that was all it took for the bloke to run off. 
  Aliena scoffed as she tried to look over Isaiah’s shoulder only to catch a glimpse of the guy running off. Aliena groaned and roughly shoved Isaiah in the chest. “The fuck are you doing, Saiah!” She shouted.
Isaiah raised his hands in surrender. “Look I’m sorry, Ali. All right, I’m sorry.”                              
Aliena’s face contorted in confusion and her head shook. “No, what the fuck is going on! You’ve never done this before, so what the ‘ell is up?”
Isaiah sighed and looked all around the room. He debated tellin’ her the truth or not, and he decided it would be easier if she just knew what was up. “Look, Ali… I can’t let any bloke in here have a go at you, all right?”
Her face didn’t change. “The fuck is that supposed to mean? The fuck you mean ‘you can’t let me’? Who’s...” Her voice trailed off as did her gaze.
‘No way!’ She thought. ‘There’s just no fucking way!’
Aliena huffed. “Di-Did Tommy—! Does Thomas have something to do with this?”
Isaiah nodded. He hesitantly said. “Tom… He ‘n the family ordered a long time ago that no one in Birmingham is allowed to have a go at ya. They’re not even allowed to accept a confession from you. And any Peaky Blinder who tries to disobey or not try ‘n help ya if you’re in danger, or knew about it ‘n let it happen— gets their eyes and tongues cut.”
Aliena was taken back by the rule. Some part of her was in awe that Tommy cared that much for her while the other was annoyed that he was. 
Why the fuck did he have to go ‘n do that? Why the fuck was he preventing her from going out with guys when he had no intention of going out with her himself? It was fucking ridiculous!
Her nose wrinkled in her anger before she closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Aliena took a deep breath before clapping her hands in front of her. “Okay, Saiah! You have two options. One, you either keep on carrying out this ridiculous order Tom have you ‘n you’ll have to face my wrath. Or two, you call it a night and get out of my fucking way. So, what is it gonna be one or two?”
Isaiah didn’t hesitate. “Two.”
Ali raised her hand for a high-five, which Saiah reciprocated. “Good man.” Aliena said before walking off, on the prowl. 
It took sometime before the men in the pub realized Isaiah was no longer lurking around Aliena and began approaching her again. Aliena was picky when choosing the man she wanted to lose her virginity to. After all, what’s the point of doing it if she wasn’t going to enjoy it? She wanted a man she could look at and be aroused from. 
She was lucky enough to find one sitting at the bar when she walked over to get another drink. His name was Robert, last name unknown since she didn’t care for it. They made small talk, but Aliena wasn’t looking to get to know him. She just wanted to make sure she could get wet. 
And she found that she could, as she began imagining all the positions he could put her in. 
Tommy kept intruding on her imagination— hijacking her scenarios, but she’d just close her eyes ‘n take a moment. The next time she opened her eyes, he was gone.
Aliena brought her bevvy up to her mouth and took a sip before shoving Robert’s shoulder for something  he said. 
Unbeknownst to her, Tom had walked into the pub deadset on finding her. And that didn’t take very long. Tom witnessed Aliena’s little interaction firsthand. She was sitting on top of the bar top while flirting with some random fucking bloke. He didn’t know what infuriated him more.  
The fact that someone dared to go against his orders, or that she was flirting with someone in front of his face. 
Tom’s jaw dropped a little and his tongue prodded the inside of his cheek. He closed his mouth and nodded before he made a beeline for Aliena. As he grew closer, she’d finally noticed him. A smile on her face was quickly wiped off as Tom walked right up to her, tugged her off the top ‘n threw her over his shoulder.
Ali gasped and exclaimed. “What—!”
Tom hiked her further up his shoulder before spinning around and making his way toward the door. “Shut up, Ali.”
“--the fuck are you doing!”
Tom had no intention of letting her down. He feared she’d just talk her way out of it, or try to fucking run away. Tom was gonna give her the lecture of a lifetime whether she liked it or not. He wasn’t going to let her get the chance to go back to her mates and cause more embarrassment for herself. 
Aliena was shouting at Tom to let her down. She was pounding on his shoulder as an extra measure, but it wasn’t like she was doin’ it hard either. The pounding resembled more like knocking or somethin’.
Eventually, Aliena huffed and just let herself be carried to wherever he was taking her. From the streets he was walking, Ali soon realized they were going to his flat. She tsked and tried to support her head up. 
When they reached his front door, Tom hiked her up on his shoulder again before reaching for his keys. 
Aliena rolled her eyes as she muttered. “I can walk on my own two feet, you know.”
Tom ignored her as he struggled to get his door unlocked and open. It was difficult with a body over his shoulders, but he did it. The minute he walked through the door— he let Ali down. 
As she regained her footing, Tom locked the door behind him. Ali stabilized herself rather quickly and threw her head back with an overexaggerated groan as she stomped away from Tom ‘n toward the stairs.
Tom turned back ‘round and shouted. “Oi! Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
Ali rolled her eyes and faced him. A hip dropped as she said. “To bed.”
He shook his head. “No.” Tom walked right up to her face and repeated. “No. We’re going to talk about the little show you put on at the pub. Huh?”
Ali averted her gaze from him and began shaking her leg.
Tom grabbed her chin and made her face him. “Huh? What the fuck was that t’night?”
Aliena couldn’t tell ya a blag. What he did went straight to her cunt and the fact she was looking to fuck tonight— did not help her case at all.
Tom released her chin and waited for Aliena to answer.
She sighed and waved her left arm out before letting it drop to her side. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin’ about, Tom.”
He scoffed.
“I DON’T... know what you’re talking about ‘cause all I was doing was having some fun with my mates. That’s all.” 
Tom shook his head. “No, that’s not all. You got on that bar top and sang and danced. You got drunk ‘n started making a fool of yourself.”
Aliena tsked, rolling her eyes, and throwing her head back. “I wasn’t fucking drunk.”
“Yeah fucking right!”
Aliena looked at him in disbelief. “You know what! You weren’t even fucking there, so I don’t even know how the fuck you knew about what I was doing, by the way! Don’t tell me you had another Peaky Blinder looking after me. ‘Cause that’d mean you sicked three people on me tonight, and I’d want to know the fucking reason for that too. ”
“Finn phoned me, worried about ya. And I did not sick three people on you tonight. I only told Finn to look after you.”
Aliena sighed deeply at the news, her eyes rolling again. A hand came up to her forehead and she rubbed it. “Finn...” She whispered. “Of fucking course, that goddamn kid.” Aliena didn’t even look at Tom again. Instead, she waved him off as she turned around while walking toward the staircase. 
“And where do you think you’re going, Ali? We’re not done here!” He shouted as he watched her climb the stairs. His gaze naturally falling on her arse. 
She craned her head back a little as she replied. “Yes, we fucking are. Both of our emotions are high right now. There’ll be no moving forward in this conversation. So good night, Tom.” 
Tom shook his head, his pointer finger running over his bottom lip. Angrily, he ripped off his coat, and threw both it and his cap on his sofa. He marched up the stairs as he shouted for Aliena.
Dumbly, Ali was deciding which room she wanted to bunk in for the night, and it allowed Tom just enough time to catch up with her. He grabbed her by the crook of her arm and pulled her into his room. He threw her into it, to which she cried out. 
“Jesus Christ, Tommy!” She yelled. 
None of this was helping, by the way. This roughness he was handling her with. Yeah, she liked this! So, he wasn’t winning in the slightest.
His eyes were blown wide, and his hands were on his hips. With the wave of his finger, he asked. “Yeah ‘n who the fuck was that who you were talkin’ too? Eh!”
Aliena squeezed her hands into fists before letting them relax as she stifled her groan. “God, Tommy! Why the fuck does it matter?”
“Who was he, Aliena! I want a fucking name!”
“I DON’T KNOW! Okay? He’s name was Robert and that’s all I know.” She yelled louder than Tom, which was making his blood boil more. Aliena clapped her hands and with finger guns, she began. “You know fucking what? Answer my fucking question, Tom. Why the fuck do you care? Huh?”
Aliena inched closer to him, and making Tom stand up straighter, slightly.
“Why the fuck did you have your men scare away other men away from me? Explain it to me.”
Tom chuckled, humorlessly. “For your own protection, sweetheart.”
She shook her head. “No. I would’ve believed you if you only ordered them to maim anyone who tried assaulting me. That would make it believable. But to put a city wide order that I was not to be fucking approached in the slightest! That even if I went up to them, they better run the other fucking direction unless they wanted to lose their eyes! No… Fucking no. So, tell me, Thomas. What the fuck is up?” 
Aliena was standing directly under Tom. She could hear his heavy breathing with clarity. He didn’t respond. She scoffed and walked away from him further into the room. 
By the grace of “intoxication,” Aliena felt like she was finally bold enough. She was going to blame it on the alcohol. If what she was about to do, backfired on her— she’d deny, deny, deny.
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Tom watched as Ali walked away from him before facing him. The air about her was different. She didn’t look angry and annoyed anymore; she looked like she was on a mission. It was attractive. Seductive. Arousing.
Aliena’s fingertips trailed up her arm, an eyebrow raised as she said. “You wanna know why I was even talking to Robert, Thomas.” Her fingertips grazed up her left shoulder and across her collarbone. “It’s because I intended on fucking him.” Her voice trailed off at the end.
Tom’s head snapped up and he looked at her straight in the eyes, flabbergasted. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. 
‘She—! She was gonna what?’
Aliena giggled, humorlessly, as she took in Tommy’s expression. Her fingertips stopped her dance as she did so. Ali composed herself rather quickly ‘n she continued. “I was going to fuck him...” She shrugged her shoulders and pursed her lips as she said. “To finally get over you.”
Aliena cocked her head to the side and waited for his reaction. Tom shuffled his stance and tucked his hands into his pockets. He could feel his eyes glaze over and lust creep on him as Aliena teasingly had a single fingernail under the strap of her dress.
Aliena looked away before looking back at him. “So, there it is, Tommy. I said it. Now, you have two options. You either walk out that door, or...” Aliena attempted to look sexual as she slipped both of the straps of her dress down her shoulders ‘n let it fall to the ground. 
Tom gulped at the sight of her. Her bare breasts. The sight of her in nothing but her panties.
“You fuck me.” She finished, fixing her posture. 
Truthfully, she was trembling in anxiety. She hoped to God she wasn’t making a fool of herself.
Tom had to internally fight his demons and he needed to do it quickly, out of respect for her. It was a whole lot of, “should he” or “should he not.” But then, Aliena just had to trail her fingertip down her neck again with this far-off gaze and he knew his choice.
Tom rushed toward Aliena and captured her lips, hungrily. Aliena couldn’t help but gasp happily. Her mouth opening wide. Tom didn’t waste the opportunity to shove his tongue inside. He made her walk backward toward the wall. The pace caused Ali to be shoved into the wall. The pain that erupted in her back made her moan into his mouth. 
Tom’s hands trailed up from her waist all the way to her breasts and he squeezed them eagerly. Almost wantonly, Ali gasped with a smile again as she arched her back into Tom’s hands.
This… This is what Tom was talking about. This passion, this feeling of completion! This was it!
Tom parted from her lips which made her pant for air. He pressed kisses on the side of her mouth, her cheek, before peppering her neck with them. Aliena’s fingers found Tommy’s hair and she found herself pressing him closer against her neck. 
‘So, she feels it here...’ He thought.
Tom increased his antics. Nipping, sucking, and kissing her neck all over. While Aliena wasn’t moaning, she was panting ‘n gasping as if she couldn’t breath. Hitching as if she were in pain. 
Tom left her neck and lowered himself down to her breasts. He rolled her left nipple in his mouth while still kneading her right breast. When he decided to tug on her nipple with his teeth, he tugged on her right nipple with his fingers. Aliena gasped and yanked Tom’s hair as she arched her back into him further.
“Tommy...” She rasped. “I—! Please.” 
Mentally, it hurt her to plead like this. It sent her cheeks aflame, and she would’ve hid her face in embarrassment if she wasn’t feeling so much pleasure from running her fingers through his hair.
As Tom moved to her right tit, he shushed her and whispered against her skin. “Patience, love.”
Aliena’s breath hitched once more as Tom nibbled on her nipple, her thighs rubbed together. It did nothing, but allow her to get some pent up energy out of her. 
Tom let go of her right nipple with one last tug before he rose up a little to begin marking up the space above her breasts. Aliena giggled at him.
“So, are you a tits man, then, Tommy?” She asked breathily, a giggle at the end of her sentence.
Tom stopped sucking on a particular spot on her chest as he began to smile. He picked his head up and pecked her lips repeatedly. “Yours. I’ve. Been. Wanting to. Do this. To yours.”
Aliena’s hands had slid down to his face and she stroked his cheek lovingly. She parted from their pecks and whispered. “Who am I to deny you, then?”
Tom stared into her eyes before hooking his hands in the crooks of her knees and carrying her. Ali yelped and wrapped her arms around his neck before going into a giggling fit. Tom walked over to his bed and plopped her down on it. 
Aliena bounced as a result. Tom hurriedly back to yank his clothes off and cursed himself for wearing so many accessories. While Tom was working on taking off his shirt sleeve garters, Ali had scooted herself down the bed and worked on getting his belt off.
The whole situation was laughable, so Tom began to laugh— which made Aliena laugh. Once Tom got the bloody things off, Aliena had already thrown aside his belt and unzipped his pants. Tom bent down and tried to kiss Aliena. 
She realized what he was trying to do ‘n met him halfway by standing on her knees. Grateful that she allowed him to bend less, he continued working on unfastening the buttons on his vest ‘n shirt while slipping off his shoes. He took off his shoes, stepped out of his pants, and kicked them both away while throwing his vest and button up off his shoulders. 
The pair broke their kiss to let Tommy yank off his under shirt. Tom found her lips once more as he slowly climbed on top of her and hovered above her on his bed. After a minute or two more of kissing, he parted and asked against her lips. “Are you sure you want this, Aliena? We can stop right now.”
Ali stared into Tommy’s eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. She nodded her head. “I want you, Tommy. It’s always been you.”
They stared into each other’s eyes a bit longer before Tom’s head ducked down and began trailing deep kisses all the way down to her groin where the hem of her panties lied. He placed kisses along the hem as he hooked his fingers into the side of the band, and slowly slid them down. 
Aliena’s eyes were closed shut and she was fisting the blankets of his bed. She flinched at every kiss he placed closer and closer to her cunt. 
Tom licked a long stripe upward toward Ali’s clit as he slid her panties down her legs entirely. Ali whimpered as her hips bucked. Tom couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his mouth. Aliena was biting her bottom lip so harshly that she was afraid it would split. 
Tom spread her pussy and started off slow before working his way toward violently flicking her clit with his tongue and sucking on it. Aliena still didn’t allow her moans to escape her, instead, only letting out whimpers, gasps, and pants. 
Aliena’s thighs clamped around Tom’s ears, but that didn’t stop him. Hell, it couldn’t even stop him from hearing her little mewls. 
Ali felt that familiar build up growing in the pit of her stomach, and her hand flew to Tom’s hair. “Tommy, I’m close!” She said. “Stop, please. I don’t wanna... without ya...”
Tom didn’t stop, in fact, he worked her faster. “Go on.” He rasped. “Come.”
Aliena’s hands flew to her face as her face contorted in pure pleasure. Tom didn’t like that. She was blocking the view. Ali threw her head back and finally let out an audible moan. Her hips wildly bucked against Tom’s mouth and chin, and he let her ride out her climax. 
He let go of her with a pop and a hiss. Tom took a deep breath, trying to catch it before sliding a finger along her opening. Aliena’s hands had fallen to the sides of her head. An uncontrollable smile on her face. She outstretched her arms and whispered, lovingly. “Tommy...”
Tom felt his heart swell and without stopping his teasing— he leaned toward her and kissed her as she wanted.
Aliena didn’t mind the taste of herself on his lips, she was used to it. Having been a chronic masturbator. Ali tugged on Tom’s bottom lip and when she finally let go, she coquettishly whispered. “Fuck me, Tommy, please. I’m ready.”
Tom’s eyes looked over her face and he chuckled. He pecked her lips before replying, “No, it’s your first time, Ali. I won’t be rough with you. This time.”
Ali’s mouth stretched upward into a smile and she bit her lip. “Promise?”
As Tom finally slipped a finger inside her— making her gasp, he rubbed his nose against hers, replying, “I promise.”
Tom slowly pumped his finger in and out of Ali, and truthfully, the girl felt nothing. She’s teased her hole with her fingers loads of times. So, it was just a foreign feeling. But for the sake of seemingly “innocent,” she began panting a little.
Tom added a second finger and then a third— and that’s when she felt something. Her pants turned real and she wondered if he had to add the third finger so that she could accommodate to his size. She still hadn’t seen him. 
Meanwhile, Tom was handling his delayed satisfaction just fine. He wasn’t a teenager anymore, so he was lucky enough to just be able to focus on making this the best experience for Aliena as possible. When he felt that her pussy was sucking his fingers in, instead of trying to push them out— he removed them. 
Aliena moaned and looked up at Tom. Tom misinterpreted her gaze as her being scared and was quick to reassure her that everything would be alright. In reality, Aliena was just startled that her pleasure had been taken away from her.
She never thought she’d get off on fingers. She thought it was impossible for her. 
‘You really do need someone else’s fingers.’ She thought.
Tom pulled down his boxers and kicked them away. He was about to gather her wetness when Ali took his hand and pulled it toward her mouth. She gathered the saliva in her mouth and let it fall down onto his hand. His cock throbbed in his hand at the action. 
He couldn’t believe that she’d be this tempting. 
Tom lathered his cock in Ali’s spit and pumped his cock a few times, hissing at the pleasure he gave himself before lining up to Aliena’s entrance. Tommy hovered above her and took his free hand, and interlocked it with hers. 
“You ready?” He asked once more.
Aliena nodded. “Yes, yes, please...”
Tom kissed Ali as he slowly entered her. Ailena moaned from the sensation. Tommy began littering the side of her mouth and cheek with kisses. They both groaned when he was fully sheathed inside her. Her walls fluttered around his cock, squeezing him tightly. 
Made him grunt from the sensation. 
Aliena wasn’t in pain, but it has certainly been awhile since a cock has been inside her. Not to mention, she was still pretty sure this body was a virgin. There was no pain, but there was a lot of pressure. She couldn’t tell if he was big or not.
Aliena just felt very “full” and “satisfied.”
“Move, Tommy.” She rasped.
Tom breathily chuckled. “I can’t. You haven’t gotten used to it, yet.”
Aliena gripped his chin and made him face her. “Tommy, move slowly. I want to feel you.”
How the fuck could he deny that?
Slowly, Tom began moving his hips. He’d pull out just enough so his tip won’t fall out and then slide all the way back in. Ali whimpered at the feeling, but after enough times— she found herself wanted more. So, she vocalized it.
“Faster, Tommy.” 
Tom complied to her wishes and began thrusting faster. He found himself admiring this whole situation. Intoxicated on the feeling he’d been missing from… Yeah.  It was Ali. He’d fallen in love with Ali. 
Tom was taking in every reaction she had. With her legs wrapped around his waist, her breasts bouncing softly with each thrust, and her face contorted in pleasure. She couldn’t hide since their fingers were interlocked. 
Tom’s breath began to waiver as pants and grunts escaped his lips. He picked up the pace to which Ali couldn’t hold back her moans anymore. This only encouraged Tom to go even faster. 
“Fuck, Tommy! Yes!”
Ali was unsure of what she was feeling. She couldn’t tell if she was climbing toward her big O, or if she was getting off on pleasing him. She actually never orgasmed when using her dildo, but this was different. Sex with Tommy was different, of course it was, and that’s what threw her off. 
It wasn’t till Ali began bucking her hips upward did she realize she was really feeling it. Ali admired Tom’s blissed out face. She was doing this to him, and it absolutely gave her an ego boost. 
They were meeting each other’s thrust so roughly that all you could hear was skin slapping against skin along with the sloppy wet sound coming from Aliena’s pussy. It fueled them both with more lust for one another. 
Aliena felt that pit in her stomach again and she cried out as did Tom since her pussy tightened around his cock. He was so close and her tightening didn’t help at all. 
“Tommy, I’m clo—!”
Tom slammed his lips on hers before reaching down with one hand and began rubbing her clit. Aliena’s hips stuttered, her legs trembled, and her grip on Tommy’s hand turned iron. Tom pounded into her cunt, overwhelmed with pleasure. Aliena’s squeal as she came was muffled by Tom’s kiss. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and her back arched into his chest. 
Tom wasn’t too far behind. He parted from the kiss and looked up at the ceiling as he came. Strained pants escaped him as he rode out their highs. Tom hiked Aliena’s legs up and got incredibly deeper which made Aliena giggle and sigh.  
Ali was surprised at how fucking nice it felt to be came inside of, but she loved every minute of it. Ali was the one to capture Tom’s lips this time and when she parted, she asked.
“You down for a round two?”
Tommy chuckled as he rested his forehead against her own. “Why the fuck not!”
Aliena gasped as he flipped them over with her now on top. Aliena laughed breathily and steadied herself by placing both of her hands on Tom’s chest. Tom was taken back at how sexy she was above him.
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aomine-ryo · 3 years
Note
I can't think of a specific scene, but I just want some angst with Tatsuya please!! Thank youu ❤️
Haha it pained me to write this,, I might’ve cried a bit while typing out some of the dialogue lmao idk why I went so hard with the angst 😭 it’s so long as well ajsjsk
Anyways, I hope you like it!! xx
Scenario: Himuro moving away
gender neutral reader
All good things seem to come to an end. All your life, you were painfully aware of this fact. You tried making some exceptions, but they just proved you wrong in the end. So why did you think Himuro was any different?
You and Himuro clicked almost instantly ever since he moved into town and into the house right next to yours. It was your typical cheesy boy next door love story, but it still filled your life with colour.
The two of you began as friends, spending an awful lot of your time together— walking to and from school, study sessions and just plain hanging out. But by far, your favourite thing to do with Himuro was climb up to the roof of your house and stare at the stars together. You’d think that with the sheer frequency of your visits to the roof that either of you would get tired of it, but you never did. The stars never failed to fascinate you. Moreover, you had memories attached to the place. This was where Himuro confessed to you for the first time. You remember it like it was just yesterday.
“... and then I slipped on one of the steps and landed on Atsushi and everyone looked horrified,” Himuro recounted his awful experience that day as you tried to hold back your laughter.
However, the imagery of it only made you laugh even harder, “How are you that clumsy?” you said between laughs, clearly mocking him.
Himuro clicked his tongue in annoyance and slapped your arm lightly. “Stop laughing. I could’ve really gotten hurt, you know,” he said, not taking his eyes off of you for a moment, even after you had simmered down and looked back up at the sky.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m glad you’re okay. But you’re just really stupid sometimes,” you smiled, meaning every word you said.
Himuro just rolled his eyes as a response before a silence fell between you two. It wasn’t awkward nor uncomfortable, the two of you just embraced each other’s presence like it was second nature.
“Hey, Y/N,” Himuro said, breaking a five minute long silence after fighting the nerves by himself.
“Mhmm?” You hummed, looking over at him and realising that he seemed unusually on edge.
“What if I told you that I liked you?”
You felt your heart skip a beat at the sound of those words before your rational thinking came into play. “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised because you’re supposed to like me. You’re my friend, after all.”
Himuro visibly hesitated for a moment before deciding to go for it. “No, I mean more than in a friend type of way.”
You felt yourself freeze up as you tried to process what you had just heard. “Oh,” was the only thing you could muster.
A few seconds of silence passed as Himuro grew more and more nervous. “Should I have not said anything?”
You still didn’t say anything as your mind tried to come to some form of coherent thought. “What if I told you I liked you back?” you finally said, so nervous that you were unsure if he had even heard you.
He certainly did though as his eyes lit up and a gentle smile fell upon his face. He didn’t plan this far ahead. Now that he had gotten his answer, his mind was in a frenzy. “Can I kiss you?” he asked you softly since it was the only thing he could think of to do at that moment.
Without missing a beat, you nodded your head yes. And on that roof, under the stars, was where you and Himuro kissed for the very first time.
Ever since that night, the two of you would be all over each other. Of course, the change in titles was a bit awkward at first, but for the most part, the way you acted around each other wasn’t all that different. You’d still argue over your favourite tv show characters, you’d still laugh at each other’s jokes and you’d still meet up on that roof together. So really, nothing changed except that the two of you would hold hands and kiss every now and again.
It was perfect to you. You both really did love each other to the point where you could barely imagine a world without the other in it. Everything came so naturally with Himuro that it was so incredibly easy. You’d really never felt this way with anyone else before.
No one else around you was surprised when the two of you started dating either. When Himuro told Murasakibara about it a few days after you two got together, he even said, “Oh you two weren’t already a thing? Congrats, I guess.”
A little over a year had passed since you two began dating and things were going smoother than ever. Well, that was until one evening when the two of you were walking home after school.
“Hey Y/N, I kind of have to tell you something,” Himuro said, his voice softer than usual, making you stop swinging his arm playfully out of concern.
“What is it?” You questioned.
“Um, well, it’s kind of hard to say this, but I’m moving,” he said, avoiding eye contact out of nervousness.
Your heart sank as you stopped in your tracks, forcing Himuro to stop too. “Moving? Where?” you asked, bewildered.
“Back to America. My dad got transferred again, so we gotta move,” he explained, hating how pained your expression was.
You felt tears prick your eyes as you processed the fact that this was actually happening. “When are you leaving?” you asked, praying that it was a faraway time like next year.
“Next week.”
You felt everything shatter around you. The wind that blew your way draining the warmth out of you entirely. “But they can’t just move him away so suddenly! Surely there are documents and other processes he needs to sort out,” You argued, trying your best to convince yourself that you could keep Himuro for just a little longer.
“No, it’s all confirmed. Most of the stuff at home is even packed up,” Himuro said, trying to fight back tears of his own as he brushed his hair out of his eyes in frustration.
“Oh,” your voice cracked as tears streamed down your face. “So how long have you known?”
“About a month now. I was just trying to figure out how to tell you—“
“A month?” You exclaimed, raising your voice ever so slightly as you felt a wave of anger flow through you. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I didn’t know how. Plus I knew you’d get all sad and I didn’t want our last few days to be spent with you crying,” he explained, reaching his hand out to your face so that he could wipe the tears away.
He was quickly shut down by you swatting his arm away though, making him furrow his brows in confusion.
“How do you think this is any better?” You snapped. “I thought we told everything to each other. Now there’s no fucking time to do anything, do you realise that?”
“I do, but—“
“Save it, Tatsuya,” you cut him off as you wiped your tears away with the back of your hand. “I just need some space.”
Just like that you stormed away, deciding to walk back home alone and leaving Himuro behind, confused and hurt. He knew that you weren’t actually mad at him. He knew that you were just lashing out your frustration onto him because there was nothing else you could blame. He knew that. But why did watching you walk away cause an ache in his chest?
Himuro let you have the rest of the day to yourself. He did send you a few texts asking how you were holding up, but they got no response. In any other situation, he would’ve just walked right over to your house and checked for himself, but something told him that he was the last thing you wanted to see, despite the time crunch.
Himuro didn’t see you nor did he get a reply from you the next day either. By the time the evening rolled around and he had heard nothing from you, he decided that it was enough. If he didn’t do anything now, the last memory he’d have of you would be your anger.
The raven haired boy walked over to your house and knocked on the door. Your mum let him in with a smile, not thinking too much of it since she was so used to having him over. When Himuro entered your room, he found you simply just laying on your bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression.
“Y/N, are you just going to ignore me until I leave?” Himuro asked without even greeting you first.
You immediately sat up at the sound of his voice and stared at him from across the room. Now that you had run out of tears, you had slowly come to terms with the fact that he was actually leaving and you couldn’t really blame him. Your anger was uncalled for, but you didn’t want to admit it, not that Himuro was expecting you to anyway.
“I’m sorry,” you mumbled, voice raspy as though you’d just finished crying.
Himuro sighed as he felt his tension simmer down. He came in here expecting to tell you off, but it seemed like he didn’t need to do that after all. “You don’t need to apologise,” he said calmly as he walked over to your bed and took a seat next to you, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. “Would you like to go up to the roof?”
A small smile fell upon your face for the first time in a while at the comforting words as you nodded in response.
Himuro took your hand and held it tight as the two of you headed up to lie down at your usual spot.
There was a full moon that night. Of course, the stars seemed inferior to the sheer brightness of the moon, but the night sky was still as gorgeous as ever. The two of you laid in silence for a moment to fully take in the sight. As you finally felt comfortable again, you noticed that you ended up matching your breathing with Himuro’s without even thinking of it.
“Do you really have to leave?” You said, directing your focus to your boyfriend, who was now more important to you than all the stars in the sky.
“I’m afraid I do,” he answered, squeezing your hand tighter.
“Can’t you just live with me? I’m sure my parents won’t mind. It seems like they love you more than me anyways,” you suggested, tone dead serious.
You watched as Himuro laughed at your idea. You could never get tired of his laugh. It was so soft and lovely that it made you want to capture it in a bottle and keep it all to yourself. “I wish I could, but my parents would kill me if I even tried asking them now. They’re so stressed about the move and I absolutely do not want to interfere,” he said, the moonlight making his dark eyes sparkle.
You took a deep breath as a moment of silence passed you by. Every part of you hurt to be with him, knowing that you weren’t going to see him again. It was a surprise that you could even talk to him normally without bursting into tears.
“Do you think we should call this quits?” You asked him, your fingers fiddling around with his.
“Call what quits?”
“Us. This relationship,” you clarified, looking at him with wide eyes. “There’s no way we can do long distance, especially after being so used to seeing each other every day.”
Himuro went silent for a second as he thought it over. This really fucking hurts. He hated thinking about it but this was the reality. “Yeah, I guess it’s for the best,” he said.
You were fully aware that you were the one that suggested it, but now hearing him say that triggered the tears all over again. “Cool,” you croaked as you did your best to fight back the cries. It was useless though, because you quickly became a sniffling mess next to Himuro.
“Hey, come on, it’ll be okay. We can go back to being friends. I’ll text you,” Himuro paused to wipe away his own tears, “I-I’ll text you every day. And we can call, and play video games, whatever you want.”
Himuro shifted over and rested on his elbow so that his other hand could wipe the tears off of your cheeks. His tender touch sent butterflies to your stomach as you felt your heart ache. His hand moved up to brush through your hair, bringing some form of familiar comfort which slightly calmed you down.
“Promise that you’ll still be my best friend?” you asked him with your shaky voice.
“Of course. Who else is going to tell me that I’m stupid every day?” he joked, making you laugh through the tears.
“Can I ask you for a favour?” You said softly.
“It’s not going to be to stay, is it?”
You giggled once again as you shook your head. “No, it’s not,” you said as you sat up.
“Alright then, shoot.”
“Well, I know we’re back to being friends now, but can you kiss me? Just one last time?”
Both of you hated the finality of those words, but that was simply the reality of the situation. Himuro smiled and nodded, “Of course.”
He leaned in, pressing his familiar soft lips against yours in the softest way possible. He could feel the hot tears trickling down your cheeks. His hand moved to wipe them away as your fingers wandered into his silky dark hair. You didn’t want this moment to ever end. The feel of his lips against yours, the way he held you so carefully, the taste of the chapstick he applies to combat the coldness of your town— you didn’t want to say goodbye to it. You didn’t want to say goodbye to him.
Eventually, he had to pull away, knowing that the longer it went on, the more difficult it would be to end. “Satisfied?” he asked you with a smile, wanting to move away from the seriousness of this situation.
“I suppose I am,” you said with a sigh. “First and last kiss on this roof, huh? How poetic.”
“Hm, I didn’t even think about that,” Himuro said, realising how absolutely bittersweet that kiss was.
Another silence fell between the two of you. You didn’t need to say anything to know that the other was savouring these last moments together.
“Hey Tatsuya,” you said as both of your gazes were fixated on the sky once again.
“Yes, Y/N?”
“I’ll miss this.”
“Me too,” he muttered before the two of you went quiet again.
“Hey Tatsuya,” you spoke again after a few minutes.
“Yes, Y/N?” he replied, your name rolling off his tongue in the same sweet way as it always would.
“I’ll miss you.”
Himuro took a deep breath and ignored the break in his heart. There was nothing else he could do.
“I’ll miss you too, Y/N.”
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willsimos · 1 year
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ePortfolio
Will Simos
Week 2- ‘Starting Out’
Looking back on my first week, it is fair to say that I had an array of emotions within those first 3 days. Whether it was excitement, nervousness, stress or any other emotion that came up, I didn’t let it affect my determination for my study. When I woke up that Monday morning, the trip to Holmesglen felt like an eternity. I can't tell if the bus driver was intentionally driving slow, or if it was the suspense that was slowing down time. When I arrived, I was greeted by some familiar faces I met during O-Week, so it wasn't like I was a complete stranger to the classroom. The classes during the week felt slow, due to the fact that they were all introductory classes, and looking at slideshows for multiple 3 hour periods almost made me reconsider my enrollment. Of course, I knew this would be one of the early speed bumps in my new academic journey. I am looking forward to learning about the different aspects of media, in sports specifically, and am excited to see where this new-found knowledge and information can take me in the future. Week 1 was and all it’s introductions was fun, but now it’s time to focus on week 2 and the following weeks. 
Week 5- ‘Teamwork’
First group project I was a part of here at T.A.F.E, and I have to admit it went a lot smoother and easier then I imagined. There were a lot less group projects in high school, as most assessments were test-based and less project-like. In my personal opinion, I believe my group worked well. There were no issues, everyone had a clear understanding of who was doing what, the communication was valid, and everyone was on board with any idea or suggestions that came up. I feel that I put in a solid effort on my half, not just with the work put into the project, but also on the communication end and teamwork side of things. Considering there weren't too many group projects in my previous schooling, I felt confident going into this assessment that I would be able to do my part that met my group members' standards, and in which I can say they more than met mine. Our actual presentation wasn't too bad, our transitions from one speaker to another were pretty clean, although it was hard to tell if our audience was engaged or not, as we were the final presentation and I assume everyone's attention span may have run out. One thing I could've done better is ask for my group's opinion on my half of the work, as I didnt get their opinion until the day of the presentation, so asking earlier could have supplied me with some feedback and edits I could've made. The same goes for my group as well, we never got a chance to review each other's information we were going to present, only briefly. Looking at my peer feedback, the things that stood out to me the most were eye contact, saying how it wasnt non-existent, but it could be worked on, and to not focus so much on the script I was reading off. Overall, I believe that for a first group project, it was pretty decent, we communicated well, our information was valid, same with our final presentation. It was a good experience to learn off for future group assessments. 
Week 7- ‘Self-Management: Motivation and Resilience’
Coming into uni, I thought I would have to dedicate all my time and effort into my schooling. Trying to balance it out along with basketball, work and social life, I had the worry that maybe I would have to sacrifice one of these components of my life. As the weeks went on, I realised that I have more time in the day than I thought, and could balance out all these commitments. School is only 3 days a week for a couple hours each respective day, Basketball is 4 nights a week which is hard to work around, and work is casual so working out the social life was the hardest part. Being freshly 18, I take every opportunity I can get when offered to go out to social events, such as parties, birthdays, etc. The way I plan out my weeks is by dedicated each day towards each aspect. Monday and Tuesday are both school and sport, Wednesday is school, Thursday and Friday are work and sport, and weekends are social and work. To not burn myself out, I try not to put all my effort into the aspects that I'm not too keen on, such as studying for school. That way I can stay mentally fresh and live as stress free as possible.
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sunflowerspecter · 3 years
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haley (a.h.)
summary: hotch doesn’t know if it’s time to move on. then he meets you, and your daughter haley. 
warnings: canon-typical violence, canon-typical mentions of murder, canon-typical mentions of drugs 
pairing: aaron hotchner x fem!reader
words: 3.6k
note: hey? i’m back! with another fic! after like four months! woo. i’m also almost at 400 followers which is pretty wild so cool cool. this is absolutely unedited and i’ve been working on it for literally ever, but i doubt you expected more from me anyways (the plot is also kind of sketch) anywayss, here it is my loves! 
~~~oOo~~~
“JJ!” you yell, crossing the bullpen quickly. She turns to face you and smiles widely, throwing her arms open. 
“Y/n!” she calls as you fall into her arms. “Oh my god, it’s so good to see you! What are you doing here?” 
“My team’s going to be working with your team for the next couple of cases!” As the communications liaison for Operations Support Branch (OSB), you and JJ used to collaborate often, until she was transferred and changed positions. You and her don’t get to see each other half as often as you want, but sometimes you bring your daughter, Haley, to spend time with Henry. 
“Wait, really? Why weren’t we alerted?” she asks. Behind her, a tall man with dark hair steps towards you, and you already know who he is. SSA Aaron Hotchner. 
“Because the decision was just made this morning,” he says. He offers his hand and you shake it. “I’m SSA Aaron Hotchner.” 
“We all call him Hotch,” JJ adds quickly. 
“Y/n Y/l/n,” you say to him. “I’m the communications liaison for the OSB. I’m the only one here right now, my team is heading up as we speak.” You turn to the elevator, where your boss, Sam Holmestead, is standing, talking to Derek Morgan, someone JJ had introduced you to. “Holmes is over there.” 
“Great,” Hotch says, “excuse me.” He nods at you and begins his way over to your boss, and you watch the entire way. 
“Ooh,” JJ sings, giving you a friendly laugh. 
“Oh, shut up,” you say, but you’re laughing too. “Now, I heard there’s a case.” 
She nods. “Come up to the conference room, we’ll introduce your team to my team and give you all of the details.” 
In the room, you, Holmes, and the two others from your team that were joining you— Gary Long and John Wilson— stand at the back, while the BAU all gathered in their seats. 
“These four are from the OSB,” Hotch says. “Strauss wants our team to collaborate with some members of the OSB on the next few cases, so they’ll be travelling with us,” Hotch says. “JJ, want to make introductions?” 
She nods, then says, “Sam Holmestead leads the team, and this is Y/n Y/l/n, Gary Long, and John Wilson.” She turns to her team, then, and says, “This is Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia, and David Rossi.” 
Greetings are exchanged, and then it’s back to business. “Two young women were kidnapped and then killed in Tallahassee, Florida,” Garcia says. “Each one was taken from a parking lot, then held captive for a week, and then killed. A week after the first girl was killed, the second one went missing. She was found dead yesterday. Other than their throats being slashed, they were otherwise unharmed.” 
You blink down at the pictures. You’ve seen things before, awful things, but this was just… so much worse. You feel better about your squeamishness when you look over and see that Wilson is as white as a ghost. 
“So, what does this guy get from the kill?” Morgan says, one elbow on the table. 
“It’s rather clean, as far as murder goes,” Prentiss quips. “No stabbing, no bruising. Even the cut is clean.” 
“How long did it take her to die? This could be seen as merciful,” you say, glancing at Holmes, who nods at you. 
“I’m guessing just a few seconds,” Reid said, looking through his file and finding the coroner’s report, then nodding and glancing up at you. 
“Garcia, do these girls have anything in common?” Hotch asks, and your attention goes straight to him (because he’s talking, and you’re polite, obviously). 
“They both attended Florida state and now work in insurance. Different companies,” Garcia says. 
Hotch nods at her, then says, “Wheels up in 30.” 
~~~oOo~~~
The jet is larger than you expected. And nicer, too. You take a seat between JJ and Morgan, and see Garcia on Skype on the table. The rest of the group files in, and you begin discussing the case. 
“So, what’s this guy's deal? What’s he doing with these girls for a week?” Morgan says. 
“There aren’t signs that they’re tied up, or that he blitz-attacked them,” Prentiss adds. 
“Maybe he kept them locked in a sort of cellar. He wouldn’t need to tie them up.” 
“Did he drug them?” Holmes asks. Reid looks over the report, then nods. 
“Actually, yes, both girls had methylenedioxy​methamphetamine and methamphetamine in their system,” Reid says. 
“MDMA and meth?” JJ says, crossing her arms. 
“Wilson, you still have contacts in Florida, right? See who’s dealing both of those these days,” Holmes says, and Wilson nods, pulling out his phone. 
“MDMA is really hard to get a hold of,” Wilson says, “I’m sure it’s easier in Florida, but still, this guy has to have some way of getting money in. Lots of it.” 
“Okay, so how does he insure he doesn’t hurt them with the drugs?” Prentiss says. 
“And what purpose does it serve? What fantasy is he living out?” Rossi adds. 
The plane hits a bit of turbulence, and your stomach flips. “Is that normal?” you whisper, and JJ laughs, nodding.
“You’ll get used to it,” Morgan says. You nod and give a short laugh. 
“The likelihood of being in a plane crash is about one to 5.4 million,” Reid says, “and even so, it’s improbable that turbulence will cause a crash. Even commercial airlines are built to withstand forces 1.5 times stronger than anything experienced in the past—” 
“Reid,” Hotch says sternly, but softly, “focus, please.” 
“I didn’t know the BAU made cyborgs,” you say, squinting your eyes at Reid. 
Prentiss nods at you, throwing her arms up. “That’s what I’ve been saying! Someone finally understands.” 
“Sorry,” he says, eyes widening. “I’m curious as to whether these girls were using these drugs before or after he took them.” 
“You think they were using before?” Hotch asks, and Reid nods. 
“I just don’t know why he would give the girls these drugs.” 
“I’ll ask the families,” JJ says. 
“When we land, Reid, start setting up a geographical profile. Prentiss and Morgan, check out the dump sights. JJ, talk to the families, and make sure the press doesn’t get the information about the drugs. Rossi, take Long and go check out the abduction sights. Wilson, reach out to your contact. I want Y/l/n and Holmestead to help me with victimology,” Hotch says, looking around. 
“Yes, sir’s” went around the group, and you flip to look at the victim pages. 
Holmes leans across the table and looks at you. “What do you think?” 
You shake your head. “It’s strange,” you say. “They hardly have anything in common. Yeah, they went to the same school, and yeah, they both work in insurance, but two very different jobs.” 
Holmes shrugs, then nods. “I agree. Were they friends?” He looks at Hotch for guidance, who shrugs. 
“We’ll have to find out. Garcia, have you made any connections?” 
Garcia looks up on the screen, then says, “Actually, another girl has just been reported missing.” 
“It’s only been a day,” JJ says, and looks at Hotch. 
“We hit the ground running,” he says, and you all nod. 
~~~oOo~~~
Working with the team goes a lot smoother than expected. Your teams bond together instantly, and you all work quickly and effectively. 
Unfortunately, even a day and a half after the third victim's abduction, you’re no closer. 
“In his comfort zone, there are 14 warehouses, 13 abandoned buildings, 25 apartment complexes, and too many residential areas to count,” you say, looking over Reid’s shoulder as he writes on the board. 
“He could be anywhere,” Hotch mutters, standing beside you. 
“What are we missing?” Rossi says, and you turn and slump into a chair, sitting at the table with the team. Hotch sits next to you, a pensive look on his face. 
“How did he choose each girl? Are these premeditated or spur of the moment? And why did he escalate his time frame?” Morgan says, looking around the table. 
JJ rushes into the room. “The third girl's body was found. And he left a note.” 
The table stands. “Reid and Y/l/n, stay here and analyze the note. JJ, keep the press occupied. No one releases the note. We don’t address it yet. Everyone else, at the crime scene.” 
You nod, finding it a little odd that he left you with Reid (sure, you aren’t a field agent, but the rest of your team is going somewhere), but you stay nonetheless. The team files out and you turn to Reid, looking down at the scan of the note. 
“The paper looks old,” Reid says, and you squint. 
“It’s not old, it was made to look that way. See how it’s not torn or wrinkled, but it’s yellowed?” 
Reid nods and looks at you, for a moment, surprised. It passes quickly, and he’s looking back at the text. “Typewriter, and it’s in third person. It just describes the crime.”
“What does that mean?” you ask, and Reid shrugs. 
“It could mean any number of things. Could be living out his fantasy, could be any number of mental illnesses.” 
You nod, crossing your arms. It’s going to be a long night. 
~~~oOo~~~
The fourth girl was taken in the wide open. There was a witness. With a description of the vehicle. 
“There are more purple Volkswagens in Tallahassee than there should be,” Garcia says, “but only one registered to someone within the comfort zone of our guy.” 
He doesn’t know you’re coming, and the arrest is smooth, and the girl is safe. 
The plane ride back is quiet—everyone is mostly asleep. You sit by Holmes, talking idly about how the court is probably going to rule on the case. Hotch is awake and across from you, but you can tell he’s listening. 
“How’s the little one?” Holmes says, and you laugh. 
“As rebellious as ever,” you sigh. “She wants to be a superhero when she’s older.” 
Holmes laughs, leaning back in his seat and pushing his hand through his hair. “And that’s exactly why I didn’t have kids.” 
You elbow him. “Like you could get someone to reproduce with you, anyway.” 
He gasps, grasping his chest, feigning pain. “Low blow, Y/n, low blow.” 
“Whatever, old man,” you say, leaning back. “How long are we working with the BAU?” you ask, glancing over your sleeping teammates. 
“I’m not sure yet,” he says. Then he lowers his voice and whispers in your ear, “You’ve caught the BAU’s dear boss’s eye, I think.” 
You giggle (you giggle) and say, “No way.” 
“Yes way.” 
“I guess he’s cute,” you say in a whisper. “But that’s a conversation for the morning. I’m exhausted.” 
You look over at Hotch, writing his report and talking quietly with Rossi. You wonder what’s going through his mind. 
“You know she wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your life mourning her,” Rossi says quietly. Hotch nods. 
“I know that, I do. I just, I wish there was a sign.” 
Rossi puts his hand on his friend's shoulder. “There will be.” He looks over at you, eyes shut, head on Holmes’ shoulder. “Meanwhile, you’ve been looking at her quite a lot.” 
“What?” Hotch says, taking in a shaky breath. 
Rossi chuckles, shrugging. “I think you know.” 
~~~oOo~~~
“Hey, sleep today, but tonight you should come out with us,” Garcia says as you gather your things from your makeshift desk. You landed at 4:30 in the morning, and after finishing your paperwork, you were ready to sleep for the entire day. 
You hesitate, then shrug. “Sure, why not?” 
Garcia squeals, “Yay!” You laugh and nod. 
“What time, and where?” 
“How about I pick you up?” she suggests, and you nod. 
“Actually, that would be great,” you say. She smiles, and leaves you in your office. Your daughter calls you as you're leaving the building, and you meet Hotch in the elevator. 
“Mommy!” the little girl cries happily into the phone. 
“Hi, hon! I’m on my way home right now, what are you doing up this early, baby?” 
She giggles. “Auntie and I have a surprise for you!” 
You freeze. “Haley, what did you do?” You feel Hotch stiffen beside you, but you don’t ask him about it. 
“Nothing! Bye, mommy!” she says before you can tell her no, and she’s hung up. 
“Children,” you mutter. Hotch nods. 
“What’s your kids name?” he asks, barely looking at you. 
“Haley,” you say. “She’s four next month.” He hums, and you ask, “Do you have any children?” 
“Yes,” he says. “Jack. He’s seven.” 
The elevator door opens, and you almost think you’re disappointed. 
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asks, and you nod. 
“Yes, thank you.” 
The walk is silent. 
“See you tonight?” you say. 
He shakes his head. “Probably not.” 
“Why not? Could be fun.” 
He hesitates, meeting your eyes. Then, he says, “I’ll think about it.” 
You smile, getting into your car. “Have a good one, Hotchner.” 
“You too, Y/l/n.” 
~~~oOo~~~
Haley is asleep by 8:00, your sitter is at your door by 8:15, and Garcia is at your door at 8:30. 
Black dress, red lipstick. It isn’t too fancy, but if Hotch shows up, you’ll look nice. (Not that you care, of course. As far as you know, he’s married). 
“You look so pretty!” Garcia says once you’re in her car. 
“Thank you! You too!” you say, and then she starts telling you stories from the team. How Reid will go off about Halloween, how Prentiss faked her death, how Morgan and her flirt endlessly (which you picked up on), how Hotch’s son, Jack, is doing soccer. 
You, in turn, tell Garcia about Wilson’s wife, Mary, and how Holmes once fell down a well while working on a case and was stuck for an hour and a half, and how Greg has this terrible habit of accidentally befriending the worst people. 
You reach the bar laughing, and you find the table everyone (except Hotch) is sitting at. You and Garcia join them, and conversation becomes easy. Until, a few minutes after your arrival, Hotch takes a seat beside you. 
“Hi,” he says, and everyone greets him. 
“We were just talking about how we could run off and buy a house in the woods and live a secluded life together for the rest of time,” Prentiss says, and you let out a laugh. 
“I’m sure that will work out wonderfully, especially with three children,” Hotch says. 
“And the house has to be big, there’s a lot of us,” you add. 
“And we work for the government, they’ll be suspicious if we all quit at once,” Greg says. 
Spencer shrugs. “Not to mention the cost of living would be expensive, and we’d be out of a job. Plus, there’s no one to replace us.”
You lean over and boop Spencer’s nose. “We’re irreplaceable.” 
“Don’t count on that, Strauss has been after my ass since the moment I stepped in that office,” Hotch says. 
Rossi mutters something into Hotch’s ear, and your stomach does backflips. JJ turns to you. “Is Haley still into dance?” 
You shake your head. “That was a short lived hobby. I think this week it’s art.” 
“Henry is the same way! He doesn’t stick with one thing for more than a few days,” she laughs. “Hotch, what about Jack?” 
“He’s stuck with soccer pretty consistently, but he also can’t decide if he likes drums or drawing on the wall more.” 
You and JJ laugh. “Where’s Will?” you ask JJ, raising an eyebrow.
“He stayed home with Henry, but he sends his love.” JJ looks over at Hotch. “I presume Jack is with Jessica?” 
“Yes,” he says, huffing a laugh, his eyes darting to yours. “I really should be paying that woman.” 
“Is Jessica not your wife?” you ask, glancing from JJ to Hotch. They share a look, and JJ turns to Spencer, picking up on his and Emily’s conversation. Your attention is now fully on Hotch, who sighs. 
“No, Jessica is my sister-in-law,” he says, and he opens his mouth to say more, but then hesitates. “My wife died a few years ago. Her name was Haley.” 
“Oh,” you say dumbly. “Oh, oh I’m so sorry.” You meet his eyes, but he shakes his head. “My husband died a few years ago too. Right before Haley was born, actually,” you say, laughing humorlessly.
He nudges your shoulder lightly, then says, “Look at us, two widowed single-parents.” 
“A pair we make, Mr. Hotchner,” you say, and he nods. 
~~~oOo~~~
As you’re leaving the conference room after a briefing, Holmes pulls you aside. He watches as everyone leaves the room, and says, “This will be our last case with the BAU.” You blink at him, disappointment filling you. 
“Why are you telling just me?” you ask, crossing your arms. 
Holmes shrugs, looking out the conference room window. You follow his gaze to where Hotch and Morgan are talking in front of Hotch’s office. “Because you might want to shoot your shot before you never see him again,” Holmes says. You try to ask him what he means, but he’s already left the room.
You sigh, picking up your things and getting your bag, going to stand beside JJ and Emily as you make your way out to the jet. You trail a step behind them, your mind racing. What did Holmes mean by that? Your heart dropped a little bit at the thought of never seeing the team you had been working with for the past six months ever again. Surely, you will. JJ and you are close friends, and you had grown close with the rest of the team too, right? 
“What’s on your mind?” You startle at the sound of his voice, looking up to see Hotch looking down at you, his brows drawn together. 
“Oh,” you say. “Nothing.” 
“You can’t lie to a profiler.” 
You laugh. “Holmes told me this is our last case together,” you tell him, looking ahead, where JJ and Emily are boarding the plane. 
“It is,” he says. His voice is even, steady, normal. There is nothing to suggest he is happy for your departure or upset about it. He is neutral. 
“Shame,” you say, “I was sort of getting used to working with you guys.” 
He’s quiet for a moment, and you board the plane. You sit in your usual seat and he sits beside you; that’s how it always is. It feels wrong, today. 
“It’s not like we’re just going to disappear, though,” Hotch says to you, just so you can hear. “You know where I work after all.” You huff a laugh, your heart rate increasing more than you’d care to admit. “On top of that, we have no idea how long this case will last. Maybe it goes horribly wrong and you’re stuck with me forever.” 
“We better solve it quickly, then,” you say, raising an eyebrow at him. He scoffs, and you shake your head. “But, really. I’ll miss working with you.” After a second, your eyes widen and you add, “All.” 
He nods, shifting in his seat. “I’ll regret no longer having your team’s expertise.” 
“Our teams are good together, for sure.” 
~~~oOo~~~ 
After the case, you try not to look too blue as you step onto the jet for the last time. You and Holmes are the first ones on the jet, and when you sit across from him instead of your usual spot, he raises an eyebrow at you. 
“Do you know where we’re going next? What our next assignment is?” you ask. He shakes his head, and you look down at your hands. 
“We won’t be travelling with the BAU,” he says, “but we will be working at headquarters for the meantime.” 
“That’s going to be an adjustment,” you say, looking over at him. “Watching the team leave, not going with them.”
He nods. “But at least you’ll get to see him.” 
“You mean them,” you say, furrowing your brow. “The team.” 
As the words leave your mouth, Hotch walks on board. He nods at the two of you, his facial expression blank. He sits in his usual spot. He looks small. 
“No, I said what I meant,” Holmes said, shrugging. “Maybe you just didn’t want to hear it.” 
You don’t reply, looking over to where Hotch is sitting. You look to Holmes for permission, and he nods at you. You make your way over to Hotch, sitting next to him. 
“Hi,” you say quietly. 
“Hi,” he says back. 
A beat. 
“So—” you both say at the exact same time. 
“I’m sorry,” you say. 
“You go first,” he says. 
“I’m going to miss you. The whole team,” you add, “but especially you.” 
He flushes, giving a sort of smile as he shifts in his seat, nodding to you. “I’m going to miss you too.” You hold your breath, and he says, “But I figured, you know, there’s not really any reason we can’t still see each other. After this. We could get coffee sometime.” 
You grin, bumping your shoulder against his. “Are you asking me out, Hotchner?” you whisper quietly, jokingly. 
“Maybe,” he says, looking uncharacteristically unsure. “If you say yes.” 
“Well,” you say, looking up and tapping your chin. You meet his eyes, and he’s staring at you like your next words are the most important thing in the world, “I would be an idiot if I said no.” 
He smiles, big and wide like you’ve never seen and it goes straight to his eyes. “Then it’s a date.” 
“Then it is,” you say, smiling right back at him. 
taglist; let me know if you wanna be added or removed!
@quillvine @winterscaptain @genevievedarcygranger @ssaic-jareau @andreasworlsboring101 @roses-and-grasses
hehe thanks for reading xx
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youngerdrgrey · 3 years
Text
highlight(s) of my life // a WildMoore fanfic (2/2)
about: Inspired by Sophie's new S3 highlights. Good Bro ™ Ryan Wilder teases Sophie about what other post-break up activities Sophie might have partaken in. Sophie is less than amused and more than a little interested.
read part one here + read part two on ao3
🦇
Right. It’s not like Ryan hasn’t considered it. Sophie is, well, she’s Sophie freaking Moore. But she’s also Sophie ‘Kate’s ex,’ and Sophie ‘member of the Bat Team.’ Sophie ‘quit her job after Ryan wanted her to.’ Sophie ‘sat with Ryan on Coryana when they both thought Ryan was dying.’
There have been many nights where Ryan lies awake with the ghost of Sophie’s hand in hers. It’s ridiculous. She couldn’t really feel the heat of Sophie through the gloves. But she could feel Sophie’s shoulder. Hear Sophie’s breathing along with the crackle of the field. Remember Sophie’s voice straining as she urged Ryan to hold on just a little longer, just until they got to Luke.
Ryan used to say she wanted to go peacefully, in her sleep, with her wife beside her. Very The Notebook. Dying on Coryana like that wouldn’t have been the exact same, but it wasn’t the worst interpretation.
Maybe that moment did something to her. Maybe it changed them both. Maybe it… crossed some wires to have literally been there together through that. Or maybe it has more to do with the last few weeks. With everything from “I know you’re Batwoman, Ryan” through to here, in the bar, with Sophie’s expectant eyes on her.
What the fuck does Ryan say to that?
Another woman slips up beside Sophie before Ryan can respond. This brown skinned girl with dark blue box braids and a staggering set of dimples. Her smile’s amazing as she turns to Sophie.
“I’ve seen you around here before. Vodka, right?” she asks.
Ryan responds at the same time that Sophie does. “Tequila,” they say together. Ryan flashes back to that night of Never Have I Ever at the loft. Back when the couch seemed miles long and too small at the same time, when Ryan’s face betrayed her and softened as she watched Sophie think up things that she hadn’t done.
Sophie gives Box Braids a polite smile before looking back to Ryan. “Can we…?” She motions with her head to the side.
Box Braids’ eyes volley between Sophie and Ryan. “Ah. Well, can I still get the discount?”
Ryan shakes her head at Box Braids. “Deal’s off. Sorry.” Box Braids walks off, and Sophie stares at Ryan expectantly. The thing is, if Ryan goes with Sophie, then everything changes. That should be a good thing. That could be, right?
Ryan scans the bar for some kind of excuse. Sophie clocks the avoidance. Sophie’s earlier nervousness shifts into impatience. Her brows lift as she tries to tamp it down.
“Seriously? You’re supposed to be off soon anyway.”
Ryan chuckles. “Leaving work early? Issa bad look for the manager.” Sophie glares at Ryan, which, okay, that’s fair. Sophie’s trying to put herself out there, and Ryan can feel her heart pounding in her chest.
“You know what else is a bad look?” Sophie motions at the general charged air between them. “This. I’m a big girl, Ryan. If you’re not interested, then say that. I can handle it.”
After being rejected by her own mom, a bartender probably wouldn’t hold much weight. Ryan gulps. It’s not that she isn’t interested. It’s just… the timing and the bar and… the them. But she can’t let Sophie leave thinking that Ryan’s not interested.
Ryan pulls her apron off and slips it under the counter. “Come on.” She leads the way from behind the bar and out towards the back exit. Sophie follows her without another word. They turn down the small employee-only hallway and out the door to the back.
It’ll be better out here. It’s private, but not too private. The loft would’ve been an awful idea. Mary’s gone tonight, and it would’ve just been the two of them. Just Sophie with her sunshine hair and incredible lips.
The back of the bar’s well lit, but it’s an overhead light that somehow makes Sophie look smaller than normal. Sophie holds herself tighter when she’s unsure. As if exuding confidence will make up for the fact that she so clearly doesn’t know how to proceed here.
Sophie breaks the silence first. “Believe it or not, I thought this would go much smoother.”
Has she thought about this a lot? How long has Sophie been into her? Ryan bites down the questions and goes for a smooth response of her own.
“How’d you see it going?”
Sophie glances around. Her eyes land on the bench against the brick wall. It’s mostly for smokers and vapers. One time Ryan saw two people hooking up on it. Ryan’d hosed them down and taped a ‘DO NOT HAVE SEX HERE’ sign on the wall behind it. Sophie chuckles at the sign as she crosses to sit down.
She leans back. “First, I walk in with my new hair and my nice outfit, but you don’t see me right away.” She’s already off to the wrong start. Ryan had spotted Sophie the moment that she entered The Hold Up. Ryan played it off, but Ryan usually knew where Sophie was.
Sophie continues, “I sit at the corner of the bar and wait until you look my way. You’d go to make me a drink, but I’d stop you and say that we’re getting out of here.”
Ryan would’ve smiled at that. Would’ve joked that Sophie isn’t in charge here, and Sophie would’ve lifted a brow in a silent challenge. Her apron would’ve been tucked under the counter within minutes.
Sophie grins. “I drive us out to the quarry near the river. There’s not much to do there, so it’s quiet when nothing else ever is. I’ve got blankets in my car, and a hoodie since you never wear real clothes.”
Ryan cuts in. “I wear real clothes.” Sophie gives her a doubtful look from the bench. There’s still way too much space between them, so Ryan walks over to sit beside Sophie. “I’m not knocking your plan or anything, but you know I have a van, right? It’s got a heater, a ton of blankets, and a lot more space than your car.”
Sophie’s eyes widen. “Wait, is that where you went when Kate came back?” She turns to face Ryan as her own face crumples. “You chose a van over staying with me?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Ryan insists.
Sophie’s tone hardens anyway. “Yeah, right.”
Ryan shakes her head. “It wasn’t. I…. I’m used to holding space and giving it back.” In group homes, in seasonal jobs, and here, in the most important job she’s ever had. “You were so excited to have her back, and I didn’t want to be in the way of that. It’s easier if I just let go.”
Sophie breathes that in, and her eyes seek out Ryan’s. Ryan averts hers to the ground in front of them. She doesn’t need to see the pity. It’s not—
“Hey,” Sophie bumps her shoulder into Ryan’s, “You’re not in the way. You were once or twice, like when you stopped my fear toxin run, but….” Sophie takes a deep breath. “I meant what I said during the blackout. About you making Batwoman your own and giving the city hope again. It’s not the suit that did that. It’s you. And I would gladly spend the whole night praising you if that’s what it takes for you to see that.”
Her tone’s earnest and raspy in the way that makes Ryan’s heart swell. It’s hard to talk around it, so Ryan jokes, “I don’t need your praise. It’s not really my thing.”
Sophie reaches up to cup Ryan’s cheek in her hand. Ryan melts into the touch. It would be embarrassing, if not for the fact that Sophie’s hand shakes just a bit against Ryan’s skin.
As Ryan turns her head to face Sophie’s, Sophie whispers, “Show me what is?”
Honestly, the praise thing would be pretty great. Ryan could use a few reminders that she’s meant to be here, that Sophie wants this and wants them. That Ryan’s not a placeholder and is actually the reason Sophie’s sitting out here instead of going after any of the women who might want her.
Ryan lifts a hand to the highlights in Sophie’s hair. “You really do look amazing.”
Sophie smirks. “You should see them in the sun. Maybe in the morning?”
Ryan laughs. “Very smooth.” She drops her forehead, and Sophie brings hers to meet it. “I’m not that easy.”
Sophie snorts. “You’ve never been easy, Ryan. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to try.”
This could be an awful idea. But Ryan’s done a lot worse than go out with a woman she’s already falling for. Ryan has to look through her lashes to meet Sophie’s eyes. They’re rich and searching, and Ryan knows hers could give the answer. Hers could give everything. So she pulls back just enough to bring her lips to Sophie’s. A soft brush at first. A yes to trying. A yes to a night on the river and finding each other under the covers. A yes to a life, if that’s what Sophie wants.
Sophie chases after Ryan’s lips, catching her and deepening the conversation. Because she does want. She’s shown again and again that she wants anything Ryan will give her. She’s gone along with ridiculous plans and the countless times that Ryan’s iced her out. She’s here for this, and as her tongue swipes across Ryan’s lips, Ryan finally lets her in.
When they do break away, Ryan’s breathless. “You wanna see my van?”
Sophie laughs, then nods, then kisses Ryan again. “Who’s easy now?”
🦇
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itsallyscorner · 3 years
Note
I’m so happy seeing someone on here give positions the respect it deserved as an album!!! U have no idea!! My fav currently is safety net, so that with Steve 🥺🤝
Aw thank you, hun! And thank you for the request! I’m so sorry it took long, thank you for being patient! I hope you enjoy, happy reading!🥰💛
💌.
safety net
*takes place in like early Avengers. Like First Avenger - Avengers* I’m not sure what this is, but I tried:)
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You know you're really something, yeah
How we get here so damn fast?
Only you can tell me that
Baby, 'cause you know I'm coming back
You're making me forget my past
Never thought I’d feel like that again
I came to peace with my path
Now you got me off track
From waking up in the 21st century to becoming the Captain of the Avengers. Steve Rogers felt like time was moving through him. He was just a second on the clock while it continued to tick on to the next second, to a minute, and to an hour. Steve felt lost waking up in the new century. He didn’t know what the world was anymore. From someone who felt as if he had the world in his hands, now he was just a loner in a time he didn’t belong to.
He had no one. There wasn’t anyone in Brooklyn who he recognized. Not the man who worked at the deli, no newsie yelling out the new headline of the paper, not even one of those bullies who’d beat him up in the alleys. There was no Bucky. No sign of Peggy. Just a bunch of giant televisions hung on the buildings of New York and people with their eyes casted upon their phones.
Then he met you. Agent (y/n) of SHIELD. He recognized you as one of the many agents he bumped into when running out of HQ when he first woke up in NY. He officially met you when Fury introduced you to him.
“Captain Rogers, meet Agent (y/n), she’ll be helping you adjust to the 21st century.” Fury stood between you and Steve. While you had a comforting smile on your face, a hesitant expression was on the super soldier’s face.
“Captain Rogers, it’s an honor to meet you.” You stuck your hand out to him for a shake. Steve took your hand a few seconds after staring at it, nodding at you.
“I understand that everything seems confusing and you must be feeling so many emotions right now. But I hope you’ll allow me to help you adjust to the new world. We don’t have to rush into things, we can move at your pace. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” You spoke with such gentleness. For a moment, Steve forgot about the whole situation he was in. All he could thing about during that moment was how comforting your presence was and how safe it made him feel. Maybe a bit too safe.
Though he was timid, unresponsive, and hard to understand, you still stuck around to help him. Not once did you give up on him or missed a day of your sessions together. You were patient with him, even if he would raise his voice in frustration or just look off into space. You were kind and caring. You made sure he was eating well and that his fridge was well stocked whenever you came around. You were too good to him even though he was a complete dick to you.
Steve knew he was acting like a dick, it was a defense mechanism. His walls were built up to the skies, too scared to let anyone in, especially in the new world. But you were persistent. You didn’t let him knock you down with his childish behavior and hard glares. The day he apologized for his actions felt like some weight was taken off his shoulders. He hated being mean to you, you didn’t deserve it. Besides you were only doing your job.
After his apology, your sessions went smoother and Steve was actually learning things about the new world. From modern technology, terminology, pop culture, and operating daily appliances, you’ve basically taught Steve the basics of modern life. The more time you both spent together the more you’ve invaded his thoughts. When you left after sessions, he would reminisce about the light blush upon your cheeks, the way your lips moved when you talked, and how your eyes would connect with his. Sometimes he wondered how your lips would feel against his as he drew you in the brown sketchbook you’ve gifted him.
You were like Advil, you took away the pain and thoughts that racked his brain everyday and when he laid awake in his bed at night. He spent most of his time thinking about the past but when you were around you brought him to now. The world that he was in now. Sure, there was no Bucky or Peggy, but he had you. With you, the 21st century didn’t seem that bad.
I've never been this scared before
Feelings I just can't ignore
Don't know if I should fight or fly
But I don't mind
His feelings for you confused him as much as washing machines did. They just had too many buttons, what was the point of all of them? You could press any of them and they’d all wash your clothes, it’s the same result.
Steve wasn’t sure if he should fear his feelings for you or to follow them. The last time he felt this infatuated with a woman was with Peggy. And seeing how things ended up with Peggy, things weren’t so clear for you as well. Steve wasn’t sure if he was ready for a relationship. From having to adjust to the new world, to SHIELD, and being stuck on the past, Steve had a lot on his plate.
He was scared to break his walls down and let you in. He wanted you to be in his life but he was scared of having to face even more change. Steve tried to ignore his feelings for you, but he wasn’t too good at that either. When he ignored his feelings, you’d still find a way to crawl into his thoughts. Which led to him being frustrated at himself.
“Why do you have that look on your face, Steve?” You looked at him curiously, as you sat across from him. The two of you were in his dining room drinking some coffee that Steve successfully brewed.
“What look.” He gruffed out as he stirred his coffee.
“You’ve been glaring down at your coffee for the past few minutes.” You pointed out before taking a sip from your cup. “What’s wrong? You can tell me.”
“I think you’re an amazing gal and I adore you. And I can’t get you out of my damn head. I don’t know how to think straight without you being present in my mind.” Was what Steve wanted to say. He mentally screamed at himself for wanting to admit such a thing. Instead he ignored his stupid thoughts and tried to avoid your question.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about, (y/n).” Steve shook his head as he sent you a small smile.
You rolled your eyes at him, “Steve there’s obviously something going on on in your head, I’m not forcing you to tell me. But sometimes it’s nice to voice your thoughts, it helps, trust me.” Your hand glides across the table as it settled above his. The warmth from your palm made him feel safe, it was comforting, like a blanket.  
“You don’t need to always keep everything to yourself, Steve. There’s people who are willing to help you and listen, You don’t need to do everything on your own.” Steve feels his hearts race as your hand squeezes his own.
“Doing everything alone is all I know. I mean I’ve always had Bucky, but I just, I’ve always faced things on my own.” Steve explained, the pain could be heard in his voice as he spoke about the past and Bucky.
You nodded understandingly, “I know, Steve. It’s just— If you need anyone to talk to, I’m here for you.”
Mmm
Tripping, falling, with no safety net
Boy, it must be something that you said
Is it real this time or is it in my head?
Got me tripping, falling, with no safety net
Steve allowed himself to be embraced by you. After losing the battle of debating his feelings for you, he realized that he was stupid for pushing away his feelings for you. For once in his life Steve allowed himself to be selfish. He was doing something for him. He liked you and he was going to allow himself to have those feelings for you. No more pushing you away.
You and Steve sat on the couch that was in the living room of the apartment SHIELD had provided him. Unlike the previous months of sitting on separate seats, you guys now shared the couch. The two of you sat side by side in comfort. Steve had laid back on the couch, his legs sprawled in front of him as his hand moved against the paper in his sketchbook. You were facing the window that outlooked the peaceful street Steve lived on. A cup of coffee was in your hands as you stared out the window.
From time to time your shoulder or hand would brush against Steve’s bare arm. The thin material of his short sleeved shirt not doing him any justice, the feeling of electricity rushing through his body made him shiver as goosebumps formed on his skin.
He was discreetly drawing you in his sketchbook. He stole glances at you as you continued to look out the window, eyes slowly drooping. Steve quietly chuckled to himself as he closed his sketchbook and placed it to the side.
“Better not spill all that coffee on my couch.” He teased you with a hint of playfulness in his eyes. You’ve never seen that look in him, usually his eyes were clouded with distraction, longing for something. You’ve always thought that he might’ve been longing for the past, but you could be wrong.
You rest your head on the couch, “It’s not even your couch, Steven.” Steve rolls his eyes and takes your cup from you, placing it on the coffee table.
“It’s still my responsibility.” He watched as you yawned tiredly. You were clearly tired, you had bags under your eyes and you moved slower than you usually did. The only thing to blame was the mission you’ve just returned from.
“You know, you can take a nap if you want. Have you gotten any proper sleep since getting back?” Steve asked as he stood up to grab a blanket that hung on one of his cushioned chairs.
“Does two to three hours count?” You began as he opened up the blanket. “And I don’t want to be a burden Steve, I’m not sleeping on your couch—“ You’re cut off by Steve tucking you into the blanket.
“You’re sleeping here. You’ve been there to help me adapt to the new world and now it’s my turn to help you. So sleep.” He explained with a nod before returning to his spot on the couch.
A few minutes past until he hears you shuffle and suddenly your head is on his lap, “you’re comfier.” You simply say before drifting off.
While you slept before him, Steve couldn’t help but admire the features that graced your face. Every single spot, blemish, the way your eyelashes brushed against the apples of your cheeks, or how your pouty lips were so pink and bright that he wanted to kiss them.
At that moment, as he stared down at you, he realized that he was falling hard, harder than he’s ever fell. But he was okay with it, satisfied actually. He wasn’t hesitant or scared anymore, he was going to jump off from his walls and fall, because somehow he knew you’d be at the bottom ready to catch him. You’re his safety net. 
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