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liebgotts-lovergirl · 3 years ago

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Fire On Fire: Wonderstruck Pt. 1

Gallery II Tag List Application II Symbol Guide

Summary: Maybe Alix and Joe were star-crossed from the start... A/N: Flashback chapter, my beloved. 🤌🏽Also, if you're looking for something to listen to while reading, I highly recommend this & this. WARNINGS: Alcohol consumption, like 2 drunk Antisemitic remarks, Trust issues Taglist: @latibvles @softguarnere @mccall-muffin @brassknucklespeirs @wwhatev3r @holdingforgeneralhugs @emmythespacecowgirl @auroralightsthesky

8 Months Earlier: January 8th, 1944. Aldbourne, England.

Alix had been training with Easy Company in Aldbourne for less than a week, learning the ins and outs of her cover as their combat nurse, and already, she had made enemies.

Firstly, her case officer, Lieutenant Nixon, seemed to be doing everything possible to trip her up so she’d get pulled from the field.

According to the Office of Strategic Services, her handler was supposed to be her mentor, someone who would be in her corner when no one else was, but instead, working with her seemed to only renew his determination to make her so miserable that she’d quit the venture altogether and go home to Pennsylvania.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Alix ended up being hauled in front of Colonel Sink to be scolded like an unruly child.

She knew they wouldn’t kick her out of the Sparrow Program for something as minor as giving a mouthy trooper a concussion so she hadn’t been overly worried.

The OSS needed all the good agents they could get since the Germans kept killing them. The military couldn't afford to fire intelligence operatives, even if they wanted to.

But being lectured on anger management for half an hour by an exasperated Colonel was still not exactly an enjoyable experience.

It was just simply not her week so when Bull Randleman pulled her aside after target practice, she was immediately tense, expecting to be chewed out for something she probably had no idea was even out-of-bounds.

"Hey Pyro," he called, lumbering over to her, chomping on his usual cigar. His tone was friendly but you could never be sure with a superior officer. "Mind if I borrow ya for a sec?"

"Sure thing, Bull!"

"Heard Sink really laid into ya for the Cobb thing," he began as they left the designated range area.

"But if ya ask me, Cobb was askin' to get tore up, talkin' to a lady how he was. It woulda riled anybody up."

He shook his head disapprovingly.

"That boy ain't got the sense God gave a goose."

"Is what it is, I suppose," Alix shrugged. "They're not kicking me out or anything, I just got read the riot act for about half an hour. They're not making me apologize, thank God, or I'd quit on the spot."

"Figures," Bull replied with a chuckle. "Most of the boys are real proud of ya though. I reckon Guarnere's even fixin' to ask ya for an autograph!"

The agent cocked her head, brow furrowed slightly.

She hadn't had the time to meet hardly anyone yet.

"Who?"

"Bill Guarnere," he repeated kindly. "NCO, about yea-high, dark hair, Philly accent, loud as all get out? Ya can't miss him. He was the one hootin' and hollerin' when you was scrappin' with Cobb."

Alix thought about it for a second but no dice.

She had been seeing red during the fight and the only thing she could distinctly remember was Bull pulling her off of the crumpled trooper before she could do anymore damage.

"Sorry Bull, I don't recall."

"Ain't no problem," he drawled with a paternal smile. "I reckon you was a bit busy tryna keep from killin' ol' Roy at the time anyway."

He snapped his fingers as a thought popped back into his head.

"But that does remind me, I was fixin' to ask if you got any plans for tonight 'cause me an' the rest of the troopers from Easy are gonna be goin' out to the White Rose Inn at around 7 or 8, if you're interested. I figure it'd give ya a chance to get acquainted with the rest of the fellas seein' as you ain't really been properly introduced to most of 'em yet."

"Sounds like fun!" Alix answered brightly. "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion," Bull responded with an easy shrug. "It's just been one hell of a week and I reckon we could all use a break. Be good for morale."

"Sounds swell," Alix chirped as she swiped the sweat off her brow. "I could sure use a good party. Thanks for the invite!"

"Sure thing," the older paratrooper commented. "I remember being new. It ain't easy. Gotta be even harder on you, bein' the runt and all."

Alix ducked just out of his reach to avoid him missing up her hair paternally, as he was wont to do.

"Watch it, Randleman," she said in a tone of mock annoyance as they arrived at the makeshift trenches dug on the opposite side of the field. "D'you know how long it takes to get it all pinned up like this?!"

The Southerner chuckled.

"I reckon you'll live."

∆∆━━━━∆∆━━━∆∆━━━∆∆

For an inn situated in a relatively small village, the White Rose had a rather large ballroom and when Alix made her way in that evening, it was already teeming with life.

The worn wooden bar stools were quickly filling up with drinking customers and the dance floor was a blur of colorful motion. Shouts and giggles all wafting over the energetic swing music playing in the background completed the scene and Alix took a deep breath, feeling invigorated.

This is why she loved dance halls, parties, whatever she could get. The energy, the ambience, it was all so different from the prim and proper dinner parties of home. Even in a normally sleepy village like Aldbourne, you could always count on the visiting paratroopers to liven things up a bit.

Taking in the sights, her brown eyes roamed the scene for someone she knew when she thought she heard her name being called. Turning to her right, she saw Bull winding his way through the crowd with his date in tow.

“Hey there, Pyro,” the older trooper exclaimed as Alix shuffled past some locals to get over to him. “I thought that was you! Glad ya could make it!”

He introduced his date but the blaring of the trumpet section swallowed the name, so Alix simply exchanged polite “How do you do”s and prayed that Randleman might mention the girl’s name in conversation again at some point throughout the rest of the evening.

“The guys are back this way,” Bull called over his shoulder as they continued to weave through the crowd.

“Is it always this packed?” Alix asked Bull’s date with a delighted grin but the other girl shook her head.

“Not until you Yanks came along."

Alix had been about to respond when a bellow from a cluster of tables nestled toward the back cut her off and she looked up to see a man with sergeant stripes and a wide grin jogging up to them.

“There he is!” he exclaimed, reaching over to slap Randleman on the back.

“Where’ve you been, Bull, we thought you got lost!”

“Heya Johnny,” Bull greeted him warmly before introducing him to Alix and his date as Sergeant Johnny Martin on the way to the rest of the group. “Sorry I ran off but-”

He jerked a thumb behind him.

“Had to go find Pyro.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Alix responded as she extended a hand. “I’m-”

“Martinelli, the OSS agent,” Johnny finished for her, his grin widening. “Yeah, we know who you are.”

“You’re the dame that beat up Cobb, ain’t you?” a voice piped up as they arrived at their corner of the room, which was suddenly alight with a frenzy of discussion, of which Alix knew she was the main subject.

“They call her Pyro,” she heard somebody adding, “Ya know, like a firecracker?”

“I heard she gave him a concussion,” someone remarked conspiratorially and she could feel the stares. "Nearly split his skull!"

“Her? But she looks like a fucking debutante?"

"I thought so too but-"

Alix shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, feeling a bit like a sideshow attraction. She hadn’t wanted the whole Cobb thing to become a spectacle. Quite the opposite, actually: she was more than ready to forget it ever happened.

Flying into a near-homicidal rage on her first day was not exactly her finest moment of decorum and she was still struggling to understand how people seemed to be proud of her for it.

“Yeah, that’s her,” Bull declared with a congratulatory slap on her back. “But she can be a deb and a brawler, ain't that right, Pyro?”

"Sure can," Alix replied, a nervous smile gracing her face as Bull and his date headed off to the dancefloor together, leaving her alone with the rest of the group.

Noting her presence, one of the paratroopers seated in front of her stood up and gestured to his chair with a practiced air of boyish charm.

"Here, take my seat, beautiful," he insisted with a cheeky smirk and Alix raised her eyebrows at the line. For a split second, no one moved, the whole table seemingly waiting with bated breath for her reaction.

Marone, she wanted to mutter. I’m not a fucking time bomb, guys.

But outwardly, she sent an appreciative smile in the direction of the trooper, who speedily pulled a chair up for himself to her right.

"Careful Tab," a shorter man a few seats down joked. "Get fresh with that one and–" he made a popping noise, dragging a thumb across his throat. "--she'll take your head right off!"

"I got it handled, thanks Luz," the polished trooper– Tab– remarked with a playful roll of his eyes.

As the table began to bubble with sporadic laughter and the hum of conversation once more, Alix only caught fragments among the voices.

“—seen Skinny?”

“—so I says to the guy–”

“— Lieb’s late —”

“— and I get a fuckin’ letter —”

“ — my folks are pretty jazzed —”

“— Muck and Malarkey—”

“— didn't even know the broad —”

“— shooting craps, last I seen—”

"So where ya from, Pyro?" asked the man sitting opposite her, his slightly-grating voice easily carrying over the din.

Sergeant stripes, black hair…short…loud…thick Philly accent…

This had to be the guy Bull had mentioned earlier, Guarnere.

"Philly," Alix replied absently as she tugged out a Chesterfield and began patting down her coat pockets. “Say, any of you boys got a light?"

All conversation came to a screeching halt as half a dozen eager hands thrust out towards her, tripping over themselves to offer her their lighters. She chose the closest one, a black lighter volunteered by a trooper to her left with silver-blue eyes who introduced himself quietly as David Webster.

"Bullshit," Guarnere scoffed from his seat across the table before taking a big swill of his beer. "Ya don't sound it. I’d know if you was from Philly.”

Alix cocked a manicured eyebrow and took a long drag.

"Clearly not," she remarked coolly, "because I am from Philly, born and raised."

"Yeah?" Guarnere challenged. "What neighborhood then?"

Alix sighed in defeat.

She knew the reaction that would come, the one that always came.

"Chestnut Hill."

Bill choked on his beer before letting out a low whistle of admiration.

"Jesus Christ, no wonder ya don't sound it."

Here we go, Alix thought.

"Fellas, we're in the presence of royalty," Bill announced jokingly with an exaggerated bow in the agent’s direction. "Ain't that right, Your Majesty?"

Alix took a long drag on her cigarette and ignored him, trying to focus on the smoke or the table or anything else.

She knew he was just kidding but it was still embarrassing. Growing up in the affluent neighborhood of Chestnut Hill in Northwest Philly was not what people envisioned when she told them she was from Philadelphia.

She’d heard from Penny that South Philly neighborhoods were close-knit and working-class, where everybody was in the same boat and you had to scrap together to survive. It was tough but it brought people together as a community. Your neighbors were like family.

Chestnut Hill wasn’t like that at all. Come to think of it, Alix didn’t even think she knew the names of the neighbors in the estate to their right and she’d certainly never had to struggle for survival. Her father’s business connections ensured a life of ease for her, so long as she did everything she was told… or at least, made it look that way.

Alix snickered inwardly as she peeled off her coat and draped it on the back of her chair, imagining her parents reaction to her outfit that evening.

Her mother would've been appalled but the paratroopers around her– some of whom were gaping like fish– certainly didn’t seem to mind it.

It had been another of her many pilfered gowns from a modeling gig. She couldn't remember which false name she'd given the photographer for the print– something nondescript – but she'd kept the dress tucked at the back of her closet ever since the gig, knowing full well that if her mother discovered it, it would be in the garbage by sundown and Alix would most likely be grounded for life.

She hadn't tried it on in a year or so but the scarlet silk still clung to her in all the right places and the skirt flared out beautifully like a fairytale gown. The only issue was the top, which was perhaps just a tad too small for her now as her ample chest was threatening to spill over with each breath she took.

Nonetheless, she had to admit, she looked pretty good, even if she was a bit overdressed compared to the other girls in their Woolworth’s tea dresses.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Alix tried to distract herself with some idle conversation, engaging with Webster on the merits and drawbacks of the Shakespeare authorship question when she happened to glance over toward the door and the agent felt her breath hitch as time seemed to slow.

The handsome technician she’d caught staring at her on her first day…the wiry one with the laidback swagger and the warm brown eyes...the one she’d been dying to speak to but didn’t have the chance…

He was there, just steps away, looking as ruggedly handsome as ever as he made his way over to their section of the room. But then Alix’s view was partially obstructed by Tab, who’d stood up to greet his approaching friends, casting the shorter agent in his long shadow.

"Sorry, we're late, fellas," the technician addressed the rest of the group dryly, without a clue that the slight rasp of his tenor voice was making the practically-invisible Alix's heart skip a beat.

"Skinny here—" she heard a small grunt and Alix guessed the companion had been elbowed or otherwise nudged, "had to get bitched out by Peacock for bein’ a drunken idiot last Monday, and guess who had to wait up for him."

"I said I was sorry," Skinny grumbled, seemingly more to himself than anybody else. "What more does he want from me, Joe?"

"Probably all the light bulbs ya stole from his lamps when you were plastered, ya fuckin' menace."

From the reflection in her water glass, Alix could see Skinny sulking, pulling a face that strongly resembled an exasperated river otter, and she bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Joe seemed just as amused and as Tab shifted, allowing Alix to just barely be glimpsed, Joe caught her eye and shot her a wink that made her cheeks get warm.

“Well if Sober Wayne knew where Drunk Wayne hid the lightbulbs, then Sober Wayne would give ‘em all right back," Skinny retorted testily.

Retreating, he dragged a chair over to the far side of the table which resulted in nearly everyone having to scoot over one and him practically sharing a seat with a now-equally-sulky Bill Guarnere.

"How’d you even get in Peacock's room in the first place?" the handsome technician – Joe – remarked with a wry shake of his head, as he carted a chair for himself over to the table's end, next to Skinny and diagonal to Tab and Alix. "And what the hell did ya want light bulbs for, anyway?"

"You're asking the wrong guy, Joe," his exasperated friend answered, sounding defeated. "I'm telling you, Drunk Me is a whole nother person. Take it up with him."

“Well, drunk or sober, we’re just glad you two could make it!” Tab assured them breezily before shouting something over his shoulder about grabbing more beers and disappearing into the crowd.

Glancing over to where the technician– Joe– was seated, just diagonal to her from across the table, Alix found herself admiring how remarkably at-ease he was.

She felt like a fish out of water, surrounded by people she barely knew while the occasional stranger ogled her like a piece of meat.

But Joe…Joe was animated and engaging, trading smart remarks with Bill Guarnere across Skinny like casual blows during training.

It definitely helped that his intensity and charm reminded her of the male lead in one of those romance pictures they were always showing at the movie theaters.

He looked the part of the dashing soldier too in his uniform, with his thick brown hair now dark with styling product, finely-drawn features and the way those warm brown eyes crinkled slightly when he smiled…

He was smiling at her.

Oh no.

Suddenly realizing she’d been caught, Alix could feel heat creeping up her cheeks again and she was positive that she was as bright red as her dress by now.

She returned the smile but found she just couldn’t tear her eyes from his, and he seemed to be facing the same silent struggle.

The idle chatter around them seemed far away now and for a second, it was just the two of them gazing into each other's eyes from across the table, each searching for the right thing to say to the other.

He spoke first, leaning forward so she could hear him better over the noise.

“Doll, I’m gonna need you to quit that,” he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Alix cocked her head inquisitively.

“Quit what?”

Joe scratched the back of his neck with a sheepish laugh.

“Smilin’ at me like that. I can’t think straight when you do and I need to get my shit together before I make a damn fool outta myself.”

Alix giggled and was it her imagination or did his face seem to brighten at the sound?

“Name’s Joe, by the way,” he added, sitting up a little straighter. “Joe L-”

“Liebgott!” Tab’s voice interrupted as he returned to the table, reaching over Alix’s head to hand Joe his beer.

“Only took me half the year but I finally got you one! The bar’s held up like you wouldn’t believe!”

“Yeah, I bet,” Joe replied carelessly, clearly waiting for Talbert to notice his disinterest and leave, but the spell had already been broken.

Suddenly feeling a white-hot pain between her fingers, Alix hissed and tossed the remains of her cigarette away with a muttered curse.

She’d been so out of it, she’d let her damn cigarette burn down to nothing and singe her fingers.

“You okay, doll?” Joe asked, his brows knitted with concern and Alix felt bad that he'd cut a seemingly miffed Tab off mid-sentence just to check on her.

She opened her mouth to make an excuse but of course, it was then that the band struck up a particularly lively tune she recognized and her head perked up.

It was “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller, one of her favorites!

"Hey princess," Guarnere interjected from across the table, already getting to his feet. "D'you dance?"

"If I'm asked," Alix hinted with a pointed look over at Joe.

So c'mon Joe, she urged in her mind. Ask.

The technician had just opened his mouth to say something when Bill interrupted with a winning grin.

“Well consider this a personal invitation then!”

And before Alix could blink, she found herself being whisked off to the dancefloor.

∆∆━━━━∆∆━━━∆∆━━━∆∆

Even drunk off his ass, Bill Guarnere could still Lindy like nobody’s business. The quick footwork and energetic, almost jerky movements suited his personality perfectly and even a practiced dancer like Alix was struggling to match his sheer dynamism.

But the vivacious Alix was never one to turn down a dance, even if she wasn't particularly jazzed about the asker.

Joe, meanwhile, was leaning casually against the table and making small talk with a tall, dark-haired trooper whose name she didn’t know.

But every couple minutes, the technician would look up from his beer over to where Alix and Bill were, his expression darkening like a brewing storm as though he were at war with himself.

About halfway through the next song and another beer later, it seemed like he'd made up his mind because when she next glanced up, there was Joe striding towards them with a sense of renewed purpose and a look of determination on his face.

Bill, meanwhile, had been rendered blissfully oblivious by the unheard-of amount of beers he’d knocked back.

When Alix had met him, he was finishing his fifth and she found it to be a miracle he was still standing, let alone dancing as well as he was.

He had just extended his arm and half-spun, half-jerked Alix out across the floor when she reeled and accidentally collided full-force with someone who was just walking up to them from behind.

"Shit, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed as she stumbled into the stranger but he caught her easily in his arms, pulling her slightly to his chest for support so she wouldn't fall.

Seeing that it was Joe, Alix's heartbeat pound so loudly that she was positive he must feel it through his shirt.

"Don't be," he reassured her with a goofy grin. "Best thing that's happened all night."

Alix was suddenly hyper-aware of how close their faces were, the warmth of his breath ghosting across her skin, their noses nearly touching, and the way his eyes drank in her features like he was trying to commit every inch of her to memory made her train of thought evaporate.

Her lipsticked-reddened lips parted instinctively and she caught her breath at the way his gaze flickered down to them before coming back to her eyes and then darting down again.

Alix could feel her every muscle quivering like a bowstring about to snap, and she knew she'd never wanted anything more than she wanted to kiss Joe Liebgott in that moment but somehow, she barely managed to keep herself in check.

"Can I-" he started hoarsely, his lips nearly grazing hers as he fought to keep his self-control.

But Alix didn't want him controlled.

"Please" she murmured breathily and that was all the urging he needed. Eyes fluttering shut, his lips had been just about to brush hers when–

"Y'know the whole point of a spin like that is that ya come back, right?" Bill interrupted sardonically as he approached, a surprisingly bitter edge to his voice. "Not go suckin' face with somebody else."

Alix jumped out of Joe's embrace instantly, her face turning a bright crimson.

She'd forgotten Bill was even there.

But Joe paid him no mind, taking a step closer to Alix instead and allowing his focus to remain entirely on her.

"I ain't exactly Fred Astaire, y'know, but I'm still a pretty good dancer…" Joe said as he drew nearer, his warm brown eyes sparkling like smoky quartz under the lights.

"So whaddya say, dollface, mind if I cut in?"

"Not at all!" Alix answered eagerly, taking his extended hand at the exact same moment Bill stated loudly, "Yeah, I do fuckin' mind, actually."

"Good thing I wasn't talkin' to you then, Bill," Joe shot back, matching the NCO's tone of irritation. "The lady's made her choice and it ain't you so get outta here, will ya?"

Guarnere had already been fuming when he saw Joe embracing the girl he’d been dancing with and the snickers from nearby dancers served only to inflame him further.

Alix wasn't sure whether it was all the beers he'd had or the mortification that did it, but Bill lost it.

"Y'know he's a fuckin' Jew, right?"

The vehemence in his voice made Alix's eyes narrow instantly and she could feel Joe tensing beside her.

Rage simmered in the pit of her stomach like it had with Cobb and her nails bit into her palm as she struggled to keep it from boiling over.

She couldn't lose control again. Not in front of people who were already afraid of her.

"You've got three seconds to walk away,” Alix warned, her voice dangerously low.

She didn't trust herself to speak any louder without making a scene.

“Before you end up on a casualty list without ever touching enemy ground.”

But Bill was nonplussed.

"I'm just sayin',” he shrugged, slurring his words a little bit. “You got a real nice-lookin' rosary around your neck there, so you're Catholic. I'm Catholic. You're a Philly Italian, I'm a Philly Italian. We got a lot in common, you and me. But you wanna waste your time dancing with a fuckin' Yid? For what?"

"Call me that again," Joe growled, already taking off his jacket and throwing it to the ground. "And see what the fuck happens."

“Yeah?” Bill taunted with a barking laugh. “What’s your scrawny ass gonna do about it?”

“I’m gonna snap your fuckin’ neck is what.”

Bill snorted derisively at the comment and, feeling Joe start to move from beside her, Alix put her hand over the clenched fist at his side to keep him from swinging.

The technician jerked his head sharply to look at her, eyes blazing, but the agent pressed her lips together in a tense line.

If anyone’s going to get in trouble for fighting, her eyes said clearly. I’d rather it be me.

Joe grimaced but the murderous look in his eyes softened and when he turned back to face Bill, she could tell he understood.

The tension in his hand slowly released and on a whim, she lightly tangled her fingers with his in a show of solidarity, sparks seeming to fly from the brush of their fingertips.

Thankfully, the song had just ended and the sporadic clapping from the dancers around them cut through the tension like a knife.

“Y’know what,” Bill muttered acerbically, recognizing his own defeat even through his drunken haze.

“You wanna get your heart broke? Be my fucking guest. But don’t come cryin’ to me ‘bout it later.”

With one final scowl in their direction, he stalked off, shoving his way past a few onlookers on his way back to the tables to drown his sorrows just as the band began to play a much gentler, slower melody.

Distracted, Alix’s face instantly lit up with recognition.

“Oh, this is the song from that one picture!” she gasped, eyes wide. “ The one with Bing Crosby!”

Joe grinned at her excitement and gently pulled her closer to him, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“You’re gonna have to narrow that down for me a little, Ziskeit,” he chuckled affectionately, causing a rush of butterflies in the agent’s stomach at the sound of the word.

“‘Cause there’s at least fifty of ‘em.”

“It came out a few years back,” Alix trailed off with a bemused smile, taking his other hand in her own. “It was a musical comedy…?”

“Oh sure, yeah, that really narrows it down.” Joe teased, brown eyes glittering with amusement.

Alix rolled her eyes playfully and responded,“If it comes to me, I’ll let you know.”

“You’d better,” Joe quipped. “I’m on the edge of my seat here.”

∆∆━━━━∆∆━━━∆∆━━━∆∆

“Do I want to be with you

as the years come and go?

Only forever, if you care to know.”

Joe was a shockingly good dancer, fluid but firm. He had an almost supernatural way of anticipating her movements before she made them, keeping them always perfectly in-sync instead of dragging her through the steps like Bill had.

Unlike Bill– who had been far too drunk to pay much actual attention— Joe’s soft brown eyes were always gazing intently into hers, as though he were searching for something deep within her, seeing straight into her heart with every glance.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” he pondered aloud, head tilted slightly as he gazed down at her. “‘Cause I feel like I’ve seen that gorgeous smile somewhere before.”

"Depends," Alix replied, lightly following his steps with her own. "D'you smoke Chesterfields? Or read pin-up mags?"

Now it was Joe's turn to be embarrassed.

"Uh…maybe both," he admitted sheepishly and Alix giggled.

"Then you've definitely seen me. I was in the Esquire calendar too. I model under different names, of course. My family would kill me if I used my real one."

"Wait…so I’m dancin’ with a real-life pin-up girl?" She nodded and a devilish smirk spread across Joe's face.

“Makes sense. I knew I’d seen you someplace besides my dreams.”

“Jesus Christ, what a line,” Alix scoffed but she couldn’t help the way her stomach somersaulted at his tone.

Not that he had to know that.

“Hey, I thought that one was pretty fuckin' good," the technician remarked. "But I can do better, dollface, just say the word."

The warmth between them was growing more powerful by the second, her heartbeat racing along with it, but Alix averted her eyes and pursed her lips as Bill's parting words came back to her.

"You wanna get your heart broke? Be my fuckin' guest."

Was this a mistake, she worried, a tempest brewing in her silence.

In her experience, good-looking, charming men like Joe, the ones with the roguish smiles and the silver tongues, they only wanted one thing and when they got it, they'd be gone, onto the next.

So why was she even bothering?

Because…

Because a part of her knew she was playing with fire but she couldn't help herself. She knew it would hurt but she still craved the burn.

“Would I grant all your wishes

and be proud of the task?

Only forever, if someone should ask.”

“I ‘preciate what you did back there, by the way,'' Joe murmured, the slight gravel of his voice bringing her back to the present as they swayed to the soft, flowing current of the music.

“Stoppin' me, I mean. I probably coulda got kicked out for fighting an NCO.”

“You definitely would’ve,” Alix agreed. “If anybody’s gonna be fighting an NCO, it’ll be me because the military can’t touch me.”

“Must be nice,” Joe replied wistfully. “How come the OSS gets to have all the fun?”

“Just lucky I guess,” Alix quipped easily.

Joe eyed her curiously as they swayed in time.

“What do you guys actually do anyway?” he asked. “They don’t tell us anything except that it’s ‘intelligence work’, whatever that means.”

Alix smirked secretively.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, flyboy,” she teased. “But if I told you, then I’d have to kill you.”

Joe raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah?” He gave her a small twirl, letting the scarlet skirt of her dress fan out around her like a fairytale princess before deftly tugging her back close to him again, returning the smirk.

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

“How long would it take me

to be near if you beckoned?

Off-hand I’d figure, less than a second.”

“Y’know,” Joe marveled as he led their steps with ease. “After all that, I just realized I never even got your actual name.”

“You never asked,” Alix chided playfully. “And I wasn’t going to throw it at you, in case it was unwanted.”

“Don’t you worry ‘bout that, doll,” Joe’s expression was too easy to read and Alix found herself blushing at his forwardness.

“‘Cause there ain’t a fuckin’ thing you could do that’d be unwanted.”

“Do you think I'll remember

how you look when you smile?

Only forever, that's puttin' it mild.”

“It’s Alix,” she murmured as he guided her through the steps seamlessly, like they were walking on air. ”My name’s Alix, with an i.”

“Alix,” Joe repeated, lifting his arm to lightly spin her again. “With an i. I like that. Reminds me of –”

“Princess Alix,” she finished for him and he nodded. “Of Hesse, I know. That’s where my parents got the idea.”

She made a face and added, “They wanted a royal name for the future heiress.”

Joe’s eyebrows shot up to the ceiling in disbelief

“Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute. You’re a fuckin’ heiress and you’re still boutta go undercover in a fuckin’ war zone?”

Alix shrugged.

“Yeah, so what?”

He shook his head in amazement.

“So what? You could be anywhere in the world right now, livin’ the high life, but instead you chpose to be here of all fuckin' places. You’re really somethin’, y’know that, Ziskeit?”

There was that word again that made her heart skip a beat everytime it rolled off his tongue. Zee-skite.

She repeated it again in her head before saying aloud, “What does that mean?”

Joe’s eyes went round and he swallowed hard.

“What does what mean?”

“Zee-skite?”

He cleared his throat awkwardly, his posture suddenly stiffening slightly.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

“Do you think I'll remember

how you look when you smile?

Only forever, that's puttin' it mild.”

As the last verse wound down, Alix felt the slow creep of melancholy filling her chest, a squeezing tightness she couldn't ignore even through the clatter of applause.

You wanna get your heart broke? Bill’s words hung over her head like booming thunder from a storm cloud. Be my fucking guest.

Joe’s not like that, she tried to reassure herself silently. Bill’s just drunk and pissed off.

But when she looked up at Joe, she felt the tightness in her chest squeeze even tighter, like her lungs were being filled with water.

Like she was drowning.

With his warm gold-flecked brown eyes, quick wit, ferocity and rough-edged charm, it was easy to see why the women around them all snuck glances over at him, even over the shoulder of their unsuspecting dates.

What made her think she was special?

He doesn’t want you, something in her whispered. How could anybody want you? You’re just the girl of the hour.

Someone as handsome and charming as him probably already had a sweetheart back home, maybe several, all sending him flowery love letters and photographs for him to keep with him and sending wishes for his safe return.

A bitter taste now in her mouth, Alix knew all about unfaithful servicemen and their escapades and she wanted no part of that.

Her stomach twisted with guilt.

Had she unknowingly been flirting with someone else’s beau?

Did his heart belong to someone else? Was there someone– maybe even multiple someones– waiting for him at home?

Did he gaze wistfully at someone else’s photograph at night before he went to sleep, wishing to be back home in her embrace again?

Instinctively sensing her sudden discomfort, Joe glanced down at her, his forehead puckering with concern.

“You okay, Zees?” he asked, worry softening his tone. “Did I do somethin’ wrong?”

He was unbearably gentle with her, holding her as though she might shatter into a million pieces at any second, and she wasn’t sure how to process it.

He was funny, he was sweet, he was open-minded, fiery like her and far, far kinder than she deserved…He didn’t seem anything like a cad.

But then again, they never did at first, did they?

“Uh yeah,” Alix stammered hesitantly. “I-I’m fine. I just…”

She backed hurriedly out of his embrace, mumbling excuses.

“I…I think I need to go…Have a smoke maybe, I don’t know…”

Before he had time to react, Alix had already bunched the scarlet material of her skirt in her fingers and made a hasty retreat out of the ballroom, leaving Joe standing alone on the dancefloor, crestfallen as he stared after her in a state of complete and utter bewilderment.

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darkestdesired · 5 years ago

Text

Mates In Hell

Part:2

Heidi,Jane,Esme x reader (Romantic)

Alec x reader (platonic)

Cullens x reader (platonic)

Tags: @rexburn12

Part 1

An:Since this is a romantic pairing i aged Alec and jane up to 18 so their of legal age.

Also Idk why but i imagined the reader having a Russian accent while writing this XD it was strange but anyways I'm so sorry this took so long,i hope you like it!

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

Esme stuck close to my side ever since we met,though i didn't mind one bit.After years of solitude i had finally met my beautiful mate,i was content.

At least...i should be..

No matter what i did i still felt this empty hole in my chest,and though Esme helped to fill it i still felt empty.I felt selfish in a way,i didn't want Esme to feel like she wasn't enough.So i tried to brush it off and continued on living with the cullens.

Easier said then done.

I jumped into attack mode when the sound of glass shattering caught my attention,Esme followed after me as i ran downstairs to the first floor of our cottage,flames about to ignite from deep within.A sigh of relief flew out as i saw that it was only alice,who had merely dropped a vase of flowers she was bringing over,"Is everything alright little one?" I asked,helping her keep steady.

"How..Riley biers..he's still alive...and he's coming with a new army of newborns." She muttered. Apparently he was bad if Esmes terrified expression was anything to go off of,"Who is this..Riley Biers?"

Esme took Alice's hand,leading her into the living room as i followed.Mentally preparing herself before explaining everything.

"He tried to kill you all? Lost and has the audacity to try and fight you again?Does he have no honor?" Alice nodded before looking to her mother who was currently pacing infront of the fireplace,"when will they be here by?" I asked. "Before sundown tomorrow.In the same field from last time." Alice looked down,trying to recall every detail of her vision.

"What do we do? We can't risk him getting to Renesmee." Esme said as i stood up and pulled her into my arms.Kissing the top of her head i stared deep into her golden eyes,"I won't let them get her,i promise to protect all of you. Because if they want you they'll have to go through me first,and I'll unleash hells wrath on them." I stated cupping her cheeks protectively.

With that settled we called the others for a family meeting and went to the cullens house,quickly filling them in.

"But the Volturi are coming to check on Renesmee tomorrow." Bella stated hugging her daughter close,"We'll have to deal with them after...i should have finished Riley off myself but i didn't realize we never burned his body." Edward stated rubbing his wifes shoulder.

"Theres no use dwelling on that now.But Edwards right,one problem at a time.Riley was a follower,merely the face of the army before,he had no real control.But he's had a while to prepare,we'll be outnumbered." Jasper added,the major peeking out a bit in his tone.

"Yes but you've never had a Hellhound fighting beside you." I said with a smirk,"I've fought worse enemies then a few puny newborns.My fire and strength will deal with them quickly." Esme giggled when i flexed my arm muscle before wrapping one around her shoulders,surrounding her in my warm embrace.

While the others discussed battle tactics she watched my profile,She knew her family would be safe with me around.But she couldn't hide the pinch inside of her,I had been so off,as if there was a chunk of myself that wasn't satisfied.She hoped it was nothing,since i had been alone for so long she assumed i was just getting antsy.She just hoped the battle will satisfy me enough.

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

Heidi froze suddenly causing the twins to look at her in confusion,"Heidi what is it?" Alec asked seeing her dazed expression. "Don't you smell that? It's calming like lavender and as intoxicating as blood."

Jane sniffed the air,suddenly sharing Heidis expression."I do...where is that coming from..?"

Alec looked between the two with worry and confusion,"What are you guys talking about? I don't smell anything like that at all." Before he could even finish the two were already speeding off deeper into the forest,he huffed before following.

When the three guards finally stopped they realized they had stepped into the middle of a battle,newborns were being torn apart left and right by the cullens,the wolf pack and..a (P/n) on fire?

"Aro never mentioned another newborn army..where did they come from?" Alec asked watching as a newborn was ripped to shreds by one of the wolves.

As the two women watched they realized the person on fire was the source of the intoxicating smell.

They had to get closer.

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

Standing over Riley Biers i watched as he cowered down at my intimidating appearance,right as i was about to go for the kill the wind picked up.Sniffing the air my pupils dilated.

This familiar scent...where had i smelt it before?

Ahh that's right..the same scent that had flooded my senses when i first met Esme.

Turning around i saw two beautiful women and a confused man watching me,the womens red eyes widened slightly with parted lips.

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

As if under Zafrina's power their world suddenly changed around them.

Aro sat with his usual melicious grin, an evil glint in his eyes at the presence of the incoming figure.

"Is everything ready?" Aro asked raising a brow.

"Yes Master,training has gone wonderfully,their ready for the real thing." The ravenhaired king clasped his hands together.

"Wonderful,I'm counting on you...Riley."

Said man nodded,"But master,didn't you send the witch twins and Heidi to check on the hybrid?"

Aro tilted his head,clasping his hands together,"I trust that you'll dispose of them for me,If you succeed then you'll be replacing them." He said with a bastardly grin and an echoing chuckle.

That was the last thing they heard as the world returned to the present.

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

The three glanced at eachother with the same hurt expression,"He truly didn't care? Was he so ready to get rid of us?" Jane growled now glaring at Riley tempted to use her gift.

Heidi crossed her arms,"I should have seen this coming,no wonder he was so eager to send us on this mission..He wanted to kill us." Alec looked down,"He had planned this all along, and we played right into his trap.."

Esme watched them sadly,knowing immediately who they were talking about. But a sudden movement caught her attention,she gasped and yelled to her distracted mate.

"(Y/N)! LOOK OUT!"

Right as i turned back to Riley a newborn had tackled me off,As we rolled and tossled for dominance trying to find a leverage over the other Riley stood up glaring with a smirk at the Volturi guards."I'd say i pity you and apologize, but i really don't care." The three got into a fighting stance but Esme was quick to speed over and push the three behind her,"Stay away from them Riley." She hissed,he chuckled and walked closer"Or what? You're just the weak mother of the cullens right? You can't hurt me." She glanced past him for a moment,before looking at him with a smile.

"You're right,I might not be able to....but i know who can." Right as he went to attack a clawed hand ripped through his chest.The fire burned his marble skin causing him to scream in agony.

I roared as i tore him in half,throwing his upper half away from his lower half.My flames from hell were quick to turn him to ash,the wind blew his ashes away,proving he wasn't going to hurt anyone ever again.

"Are you all alright?" Esme asked quickly running to my side as i fell to my knees,my fire dispersing."I am alright my love,merely overwhelmed with my emotions." I huffed looking over at the two woman behind her.

Jane and Heidis red eyes were enchanting,a small smile rested on their lips,"You two,you are my mates?"

Esmes eyes widened,"What? I..I didn't realize you could have more than one? How is this possible?" I chuckled as she helped me up,"I am a hellhound,i stopped questioning why and how a long time ago." Walking over to them with a wide grin i held out my arms,chuckling when they ran into them.

"This is it Esme,All three of you together is what filled the whole in my heart!" She watched us for a moment before smiling,walking into the hug.

"I always thought I'd be destined to never find my mate,my gift never made anyones feelings for me anything more than lust." Heidi said burying her beautiful face in my neck. Jane rubbed her cheek into my chest,finally relishing in the touch of someone other than her brother.He was the only one to ever hug her.

"I suppose we'll need a bigger cottage now to fit all four of us." Esme said with a smile.

Janes head shot up,"Wait,what about my brother." She turned back to Alec who had a sad smile on his face,"It is alright sister,you have waited so long to find la tua anima gemella(your soulmate).I will be fine."

She looked up at me sadly,With a sigh i nodded,"I wouldn't dream of splitting siblings apart,he may live with us as well." She smiled and nearly toppled me over in a hug,laughing i lifted her and heidi up,esme brought alec over with a motherly smile.

She should feel jealous,but as she watched us,seeing the happy smiles on all of our faces made her realize something.

After years of waiting to finally find her mate,she finally found me,and now we were building a family of our own.

And so long as she was 'alive',nothing was going to tear us apart,she knew I'd make sure of it.

}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}{

#twilight x reader #twilight imagine #twilight #esme cullen x reader #heidi volturi x reader #jane volturi x reader #volturi x reader #cullens x reader #hellhound!reader

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