#(she's motherin the hell out of him) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

zealous-whispers-of-us-redux · 4 years ago

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money for nothing

A/N: I don't know how the mob works, but I tried. Also, I might be ruining the tiny bit of 'canon' I wrote in the first one. Whoops. Also, also, I barely edited this, so concrit is encouraged. Yell at me for my formatting and grammar, please. Lastly, click on the links (hope I did 'em right) if you wanna hear the songs :)

TW: Implied child abuse again.

Bucky felt like he was floating on air. For the first time in a long time, he was content. This love of his was a new thing, though fragile it was not. There was no fear that it would all collapse around him, no fear that she didn't love him. He was finally home. And what a home it was. Unaccustomed to cooking anything at all, she had decided to teach herself. Bucky had eaten more charred frozen fish sticks than he ever had, but it was all worth it just to see her smile. Baking was easier for her, so much so that Bucky had to buy new pants. He had a bit of a belly now, not that it bothered her, and she made sure to tell him every chance she got. And she took to the business like a duck to water. There was nothing more attractive than watching her give some mook the business. When she said she knew how to buy cops, she wasn't kidding. The fuzz was in Bucky's back pocket- it was incredible. The money was rolling in faster than it had ever been before.

But she was hurting; Bucky could see it. Bruises faded, bones were set and appropriately healed, but she was still in so much pain. She was angry all the time. She split her knuckles on guys' teeth and laughed when she made them bleed. Whenever Bucky raised his voice at someone (never at her), she folded in on herself and wouldn't come out until he was quiet again. She reminded him of himself- twenty-one years old, mother newly dead, already married, and being groomed by his asshole of a father to run the family business. He got into more trouble back then than he ever had and ever would have. He didn't want to watch her go down the same path, didn't wanna watch her come up for air and cry when she saw the blood on her hands.

It was high time for a vacation, Bucky thought to himself as he went to find her. She could usually be found behind the curtain, running The Barnes Clan's (illegal) gambling ring. He found her sweeping the floor in preparation for tonight's big shindig. She swayed with the broom, singing with a voice Bucky didn't know she had. He stopped to listen, feeling his heartbeat pick up. God, he wanted to marry her.

"Give me your hand when I've lost my way. Give me your shoulder to cry on. Whether the day is bright or gray. Give me your heart to rely on," she sang, dipping the broom.

"Send me the warmth of a secret smile. To show me you haven't forgot," Bucky sang next, striding in to join her.

She dropped the broom with a gasp, her hand flying to her chest.

"Jesus, B, you scared the hell outta me."

"'M sorry, sweetheart," Bucky said, tugging her into his chest. "How come I never knew you had such a pretty voice, huh?"

He was teasing, but he watched as her face fell. She began chewing her tongue, and Bucky frowned.

"I wanted to be a singer," she finally said, not looking at Bucky. "But my father said being a performer was unbecoming of a lady as high a caliber as me. I guess socialites are supposed to be demure, motherin' types, and I was always drawin' too much attention. It humiliated him. The more attention I got, the worse he became. I couldn't stop the kidnappings from drawing attention, but I could stop the singin', so I just. Did. I've been tryin' to stop it, but you make me happy."

Bucky didn't know what to say; he was so surprised.

"I'll try harder to keep a lid on it, honest," she whispered.

"No!" Bucky shouted before regulating his voice. "Hell no. You- you sing as much as you want, okay?"

She nodded but still wasn't looking at Bucky.

"You angry with me, B?"

"No, sweetheart, never at you. I jus'- I hate yer dad sometimes. Who does he think he is to try an' tell his daughter what she can and cannot do?"

"A rich man."

"Fuck that. I'm a rich man. An' I'm tellin' you, you ever feel the urge to sing, don't ignore it. Whenever, wherever, you sing. It's- you got a gift, you know that?"

"Performers don't embarrass you?"

"We're standin' in a dance hall I own."

"Well, yeah, but don't you have different expectations for the woman on your arm?"

"No." Bucky lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. "I ain't anything like your daddy, sweetheart. I may be older, but I ain't out to mold you into my perfect little socialite wife. You wanna sing, go ahead an' sing. You wanna set up a red carpet in the middle of Times Square, you do that. You wanna go out an' swing, I'll go with you."

"Still can't swing," she said, but she was smiling.

"Been with you for six months, an' I still haven't taught you? What the hell have I been doin'?"

"Runnin' many lucrative illegal businesses."

"Ah, right, right. How could I have forgotten?"

Her smile grew as Bucky began to dance, urging her to follow his movements as he led them around the floor.

"How'm I supposed to share your rhythm- read your mind?" she said. "There's no music."

"Not yet," said Bucky.

"Subtle," she teased before starting to sing.

"Louder," Bucky urged.

"I'm confessin' that I love you. Tell me, do you love me too?" she began.

Bucky smiled, bending down so that he could touch his forehead to hers. He lost time that way as they moved around the floor, the broom lying forgotten. She stepped on his toes more often than not until Bucky asked her to sing something faster. They sped up their dance until she was gasping around the lyrics, and Bucky was laughing so hard that he couldn't catch his breath. Finally, they collapsed to the ground, both panting.

"Faster dancin' is much more fun," she said.

"I think so too," Bucky said, swinging himself on top of her.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, humming the last line of the song she had sung into his mouth. When they parted, Bucky opened his eyes and tapped her on the nose.

"'M worried about you," he said bluntly.

"Me? Whatever for?" she asked, acting so surprised that she dropped the accent she had picked up from Bucky and leaping headfirst into the upper crust East Coast accent that her ancestors grew up speaking. The one her father had, the one she used when she was truly upset about something and not faking sounding tough.

"You're- you're so angry, you know that? I just- you beat up men three times yer size an' laugh when they spit teeth on the ground. You don't care if your knuckles are bruised; you punch 'em again an' again 'til they give it up. I'm afraid that one day you'll go to a place where I can't reach you."

She stayed silent, but Bucky forged ahead.

"I don't wanna see you hurt. I wouldn't know what I'd do with myself. I shoulda never let you do the dirty work."

"I wore you down," she said still in that same accent.

"I shoulda stayed firm. I told you the first night I wasn't gonna let you. I know what it's like to be this angry. You kidnap a guy who owes you money, an' you think beatin' on him will make you feel better and get you paid all at once, but you come to realize after he's bleedin' and nearly unconscious that you like it."

"They're society men that act like my father, the ones I beat up," she admitted.

"I see it all, sweetheart, I know."

"Am I a liability?"

"No, every cop is in my back pocket. Don't gotta worry about that, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now, hey, listen." Bucky pressed a kiss to her forehead, wanting to change the subject. He was never good with these sorts of things. "I've been thinkin' we needa vacation."

She brightened minutely. "Where?"

"Anywhere you want."

"We could go to the Catskills again. It was so nice last time."

"Nah, think bigger. I got so much money now, an' I wanna treat you like you deserve. So, whaddya say? Corsica? Palma? Sardinia? Havana?"

"I've always wanted to drive down Route 66-"

"That it? What a cheap date you are," Bucky teased.

"-Stay at the Hotel Bel-Air, rub elbows with Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, an' Marlon Brando," she said, dropping her accent finally. "Take an airplane."

"Ah, there she is. Was wonderin' where my expensive society girl went. We can catch a flight home. We'll take our time drivin' down, see all the sights. How's that sound?"

"Sounds nice," she said.

"'M glad," said Bucky, kissing her just as the sounds of his men clattering through the club began.

They broke away from each other, Bucky settling into his role as quickly as slipping on a new coat. As his men swarmed him, each yelling about this thing and that thing until Bucky told them to shut up, a thought briefly crossed his mind. What if he ended it all? It fled just as quickly as it came, and Bucky thought no more of it as he did his damn job.

"Naw, we need that money; beat 'em up a little, Barton. Rogers, go with 'im. Shoot the guy if you hafta. Wilson, when's yer meetin' with Rumlow? You need backup? Take Parker; he's been dyin' to cut his teeth on that. An' tell Odinson to pull back a little bit- we ain't about to flood the Eastern seaboard so much we draw every copper to us. I ain't got that kinda cash lyin' around. Romanoff, any updates on Laufeyson? No? Fuckin' hell, fine, I'll do it my damn self. Fucker's got it comin', anyway."

The informal meeting didn't last long before the club was open for business, and people began streaming in, going behind the curtain, and taking their places at the gambling tables. Bucky always liked watching his dolly do her job. She was great at making guys take out loans when they ran out of money and got them to slip her exorbitant tips just by being there and lookin' pretty. She talked 'em into drinking and cheated at blackjack so easily that Bucky wondered where in the hell she learned how to do it. She was his best choice to work the games. He settled back in his chair and sipped at his drink. It was gonna be a good night.

"Here," Bucky said, tucking some cash in her top. "Get yourself somethin' nice, huh?"

She was taking a break from runnin' around the tables with Parker taking her place, though he wasn't as nice to look at. Bucky tugged her in his lap as soon as she was close enough.

"How sweet," she said, biting Bucky's ear. "You're so good to me, B."

Bucky's grip on her tightened when she bit him again.

"You know how you look out there?" he growled. "Never seen anyone do as well as you- makin' me all that green like it's nothin'."

"Gonna buy me somethin'?"

"Anythin' you fuckin' want."

She moved to straddle Bucky, kissing his chin. She kissed his lips hard, and he did too, snarling at the contrast of her fingers gently running through his hair. He held her tight, rolling his hips up. Neither of them was a fan of public... anything, but this was okay. This was enough.

"Bucky."

"What d'you want? A car? A boat? Diamonds?"

"Yes, yes, that."

"Give you as many diamonds as you want, sweet girl. Gonna lemme have you when we get home?" Bucky asked.

"On the money."

"Mm, my baby's a fuckin' genius."

"Should get back to work now, though," she said, nudging their noses together. "Parker ain't shit."

"Kid couldn't con his way outta a paper bag," Bucky agreed, kissing her before she climbed off him. "What kinda diamonds do you want?"

"All of them."

"Of course."

They kissed one more time for good luck, then she made her way over to the tables, gently nudging Parker out of the way. Bucky settled back to watch her in action.

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #mobster au #mob!bucky #fluff #angst

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mizfriday-blog · 8 years ago

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💝

SEND A HEART FOR A SPECIFIC KISS.

Send 💝 for a plationic kiss.

“Well, let me look at you.” The goddess brushed her hands off against her hips, head tilting back to look up at the Leprechaun; he didn’t seem amused but he hardly ever did. She motioned for him to turn and with a roll of his eyes he finally did. “By the norns, do you consume anything besides cigarettes and alcohol? You’re a matchstick!”

“Come, what’s this?” She grabbed his arm, stopping his rotation with his side facing her. “You’ve got a hole in those jeans and have you only walked through mud since I last saw you?” She sighed with a shake of her head, pulling at the lapel of his jacket while he made up some excuse or other.

She tapped her tongue to the back of her teeth while he rattled on before she tapped his shoulder. That seemed to catch his attention. He glanced at her before looking forward again and bending his knees, dipping low enough to be eyelevel with her. She hooked her fingers under his chin and brought him towards her, giving him a quick kiss; like from an obtrusive aunt and then gave his cheek a hard pat.

“Come on, beanstalk, lets get meat on those bones and those trousers off to be mended.” She told him, leading him through the threshold.

#;memes #(she's motherin the hell out of him)#madshuibhne

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survivemiddleearth · 7 years ago

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Cast Reveal- Tribe Perian

Perian is of the Sindarin language used in Lord of the Rings, and is the word for Hobbit; this is the tribe of hobbits:

Dennis (he/him, cest): Heyyy! I'm Dennis and a 24 yo german from Berlin. Timezones should be a problem, but luckily I'm an honorary internet american, so I can be active!!! LOTR is my childhood and most likely the universe I feel the most connected to (love HP tho but what is a starwars?) I remember growing up, reading through the hobbit and the lotr and having multiple fanarticles and posters in my room (yes I am that kind of nerd). I am looking forward to meeting you all, except for the one person who stole my original Character. He shall burn in hell (or be firstboot)

Stephen (he/him, Australia)

Bodhi (he/him, est): Old Tom Bombadil was a merry fellow;bright blue his jacket was and his boots were yellow,green were his girdle and his breeches all of leather;he wore in his tall hat a swan-wing feather.He lived up under Hill, where the Withywindleran from a grassy well down into the dingle.Old Tom in summertime walked about the meadowsgathering the buttercups, running after shadows,tickling the bumblebees that buzzed among the flowers,sitting by the waterside for hours upon hours.There his beard dangled long down into the water:up came Goldberry, the River-woman’s daughter;pulled Tom’s hanging hair. In he went a-wallowingunder the water-lilies, bubbling and a-swallowing.‘Hey, Tom Bombadil! Whither are you going?’said fair Goldberry. ‘Bubbles you are blowing,frightening the finny fish and the brown water-rat,startling the dabchicks, and drowning your feather-hat!’‘You bring it back again, there’s a pretty maiden!’said Tom Bombadil. ‘I do not care for wading.Go down! Sleep again where the pools are shadyfar below willow-roots, little water-lady!’Back to her mother’s house in the deepest hollowswam young Goldberry. But Tom, he would not follow;on knotted willow-roots he sat in sunny weather,drying his yellow boots and his draggled feather.Up woke Willow-man, began upon his singing,sang Tom fast asleep under branches swinging;in a crack caught him tight: snick! it closed together,trapped Tom Bombadil, coat and hat and feather.‘Ha, Tom Bombadil! What be you a-thinking,peeping inside my tree, watching me a-drinkingdeep in my wooden house, tickling me with feather,dripping wet down my face like a rainy weather?’‘You let me out again, Old Man Willow!I am stiff lying here; they’re no sort of pillow,your hard crooked roots. Drink your river-water!Go back to sleep again like the River-daughter!’Willow-man let him loose when he heard him speaking;locked fast his wooden house, muttering and creaking,whispering inside the tree. Out from willow-dingleTom went walking on up the Withywindle.Under the forest-eaves he sat a while a-listening:on the boughs piping birds were chirruping and whistling.Butterflies about his head went quivering and winking,until grey clouds came up, as the sun was sinking.Then Tom hurried on. Rain began to shiver,round rings spattering in the running river;a wind blew, shaken leaves chilly drops were dripping;into a sheltering hole Old Tom went skipping.Out came Badger-brock with his snowy foreheadand his dark blinking eyes. In the hill he quarriedwith his wife and many sons. By the coat they caught him,pulled him inside their earth, down their tunnels brought him.Inside their secret house, there they sat a-mumbling:‘Ho, Tom Bombadil! Where have you come tumbling,bursting in the front-door? Badger-folk have caught you.You’ll never find it out, the way that we have brought you!’‘Now, old Badger-brock, do you hear me talking?You show me out at once! I must be a-walking.Show me to your backdoor under briar-roses;then clean grimy paws, wipe your earthy noses!Go back to sleep again on your straw pillow,like fair Goldberry and Old Man Willow!’Then all the Badger-folk said: ‘We beg your pardon!’They showed Tom out again to their thorny garden,went back and hid themselves, a-shivering and a-shaking,blocked up all their doors, earth together raking.Rain had passed. The sky was clear, and in the summer-gloamingOld Tom Bombadil laughed as he came homing,unlocked his door again, and opened up a shutter.In the kitchen round the lamp moths began to flutter;Tom through the window saw waking stars come winking,and the new slender moon early westward sinking.Dark came under Hill. Tom, he lit a candle;upstairs creaking went, turned the door-handle.‘Hoo, Tom Bombadil! Look what night has brought you!I’m behind the door. Now at last I’ve caught you!You’d forgotten Barrow-wight dwelling in the old moundup there on hill-top with the ring of stones round.He’s got loose again. Under earth he’ll take you.Poor Tom Bombadil, pale and cold he’ll make you!’‘Go out! Shut the door, and never come back after!Take away gleaming eyes, take your hollow laughter!Go back to grassy mound, on your stony pillowlay down your bony head, like Old Man Willow,like young Goldberry, and Badger-folk in burrow!Go back to buried gold and forgotten sorrow!’Out fled Barrow-wight through the window leaping,through the yard, over wall like a shadow sweeping,up hill wailing went back to leaning stone-rings,back under lonely mound, rattling his bone-rings.Old Tom Bombadil lay upon his pillowsweeter than Goldberry, quieter than the Willow,snugger than the Badger-folk or the Barrow-dwellers;slept like a humming-top, snored like a bellows.He woke in morning-light, whistled like a starling,sang, ‘Come, derry-dol, merry-dol, my darling!’He clapped on his battered hat, boots, and coat and feather;opened the window wide to the sunny weather.Wise old Bombadil, he was a wary fellow;bright blue his jacket was, and his boots were yellow.None ever caught old Tom in upland or in dingle,walking the forest-paths, or by the Withywindle,or out on the lily-pools in boat upon the water.But one day Tom, he went and caught the River-daughter,in green gown, flowing hair, sitting in the rushes,singing old water-songs to birds upon the bushes.He caught her, held her fast! Water-rats went scutteringreeds hissed, herons cried, and her heart was fluttering.Said Tom Bombadil: ‘Here’s my pretty maiden!You shall come home with me! The table is all laden:yellow cream, honeycomb, white bread and butter;roses at the window-sill and peeping round the shutter.You shall come under Hill! Never mind your motherin her deep weedy pool: there you’ll find no lover!’Old Tom Bombadil had a merry wedding,crowned all with buttercups, hat and feather shedding;his bride with forgetmenots and flag-lilies for garlandwas robed all in silver-green. He sang like a starling,hummed like a honey-bee, lilted to the fiddle,clasping his river-maid round her slender middle.Lamps gleamed within his house, and white was the bedding;in the bright honey-moon Badger-folk came treading,danced down under Hill, and Old Man Willowtapped, tapped at window-pane, as they slept on the pillow,on the bank in the reeds River-woman sighingheard Barrow-wight in his mound crying.Old Tom Bombadil heeded not the voices,taps, knocks, dancing feet, all the nightly noises;slept till the sun arose, then sang like a starling:‘Hey! Come derry-dol, merry-dol, my darling!’sitting on the door-step chopping sticks of willow,while fair Goldberry combed her tresses yellow.

JG (he/him, est): Hey y'all, I am so excited for this season but first a little about me. I live in the Pittsburgh Metro Area. I am currently a Department Manager at McD’s until I finish my degree in writing with a focus in screen writing. While not at work or doing homework, I love to play video games, socialize with friends, and go see a movie (or two). The only other thing that I think is important to mention is that I am a huge Star Wars fan like read every book, seen every movie/tv show, etc. big time fan. Anyways, I look forward to getting to meet and know y'all, may the odds be ever in our favor.

Roxy (she/her, Australian): "Frodo is goo....who is that?”

Sammy (he/him, est): hi guys this is my first game back in a little bit but I’m excited to play with you guys and I’m hoping to see some new faces! I am pretty outgoing and love conversation so hmu I’m usually up( but i am in college so if i don’t respond, I’m prob in a class!)

#outwitoutplayoutrunthewitchking

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reese-eldridge · 7 years ago

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It was uncharacteristic of the young Rancher to barge so hurriedly out the door. The letter he had received just moments before was crumbled in his hand and quickly shoved into his leather coat pocket. Taking a mount meant for the caravan, he jumped into the saddle and rode off. Somewhere along the way he only managed to give his father a look. Nothing said, just a single look of urgency.

Reese made his way into the Maiden’s Whisper, his light eyes moved about the room in a cautionary glance. The city is the last place he should be. He hadn’t recognized her at the far end of the counter where she was finishing off a plate of eggs and bacon. She washed down the last bite with a glass of water, swishing it around before swallowing.

A gloved hand tipped his large brimmed hat to the bartender before setting it aside on the counter and the mask covering the lower half of his face was tugged down so that he could order a simple breakfast with a tall glass of orange juice.

The woman watched him walk in from the corner of the bar, and continued to observe as he ordered his breakfast. She figured she’d let him settle before approaching. Once he was, she took a deep breath and moved around the bar, stepping close enough to be heard. “Hey, ya made it…” she said in a lighter tone, “Wasn’t sure if m’ letter made it.”

“It made it.” His answer came with a turn of his head in her direction and his hands began to work on his worn gloves. “Ya ain’t gotta reason t’ shank me so I’m here.” The gloves were set aside with his hat and he moved over for her.

She stepped closer, nodding to his words while watching the tavern keep prepare his breakfast. “I owe ya an apology, Reese. M’ sorry I ran out on ya the way I did, it wasn’t right of me ta not give ya any word, or reason.” She admitted, looking down at the counter.

“An apology?” He spat out with a short chuckle, “You?” He shook his head, keeping his voice low with another cursory glance around the room. “I halfway expected ya t’ ditch me.” His shoulders rolled once as he watched her attention linger on the counter.

Becker bit the inside of her cheek, forcing a smile, “Yeah, heh, it’s my way ain’t it? I ain’t do commitment. Ya almost had me turnin’ inta a city girl. Couldn’t have that…” She said with a shake of her head. Exhaling once then finally looked over, “Ya remember our last day t’gether?”

“A city girl?! I ain’ even a ‘city boy’!” His brows furrowed at that. “We owned one lil’ shop here an’ it marks ya fer life.” He shook his head. “Our last day? What about it?”

She shrugged, “Felt pretty permanent ta me. I ain’t even owned nothin I couldn’t take with me.” She waved off the comment. “Dun’ matter. I was just wondering if ya recalled any of that day.”

“I remember a little of a lot of days.” He tipped his head to the bartender as his plate was set in front of him. He pulled it and his newly poured juice closer before taking a deep drink first. “Do you remember any of it?” He countered to her.

“Course I do. I thought about it a whole lot, wondered if I made the right decision. I ain’t an indecisive person, ya know. When I make a decision, I’m sure of it.” She said with an affirmative nod. “But when it came to ya, ya made everything… slippery. Ya made it hard ta decide. All I know was I wasn’t gonna settle. I wasn’t ready, n’ a part of me wanted ta be. I knew what was best fer us both n’ I split. I was scared. But, I think it was all in the right, it ended better than I coulda expected.”

Reese stifled a small chuckle with a fork full of food and then another before washing it down with a gulp of juice. “Ain’ mean to make yer life difficult. Ain’ never wanted ya t’ settle either. I ain’ one t’ settle for. My family got our hands in more than I ever told ya an’ it ain’t yer deal. Too messy. Too unpredictable. And I knew ya wouldn’t be stickin’ around anyway. Ya always made some snarky comments ‘bout me, ‘bout our ‘relationship’. So it came as only a little shock when ya were gone and ain’ come back.”

Becker watched him as he ate and talked. She even responded to his words with a nod. “Well m’glad I didn’t leave too much of a mark on ya then. Ya been well since?”

He didn’t bother to remark on her comment and simply answered with an ‘Mmhm’ as he took another bite. He combed fingers through his thick hair pulling out a few sprigs of leaves in the process. He set them on the counter beside his gloves and hat. After all, he may have been the rough sort but he wasn’t disrespectful. “Other than us bein’ run out of th’ city by the Ascolonian nobles, yea. Lost our shop, for now. Ain’ a big loss, though. We got plenty others. An’ other business elsewhere.”

Her brow arched, “Run out ya say? That ain’ no surprise, this city’s fulla assholes who think they’re better than the rest. Specially people like we are. Dun’ understand it? Get rid of it… that’s how they think…” She shook her head.

“They ain’ like our affiliations with th’ Charr and we got largely boycotted. Ain’ nothin’ about not understandin’ us. They understood us well enough. Just not entirely. We don’ just cater to custom arms like they thought. Thanks t’ the wars, we got our military end still thrivin’. Our caravans still runnin and carryin’ arms where they need t’ be.” His shoulders rolled in another shrug. “Neither here nor there for ya. But that’s what it is.”

“Yea, that’s the right of it to be sure,“ she agreed, “Well, it’s good ta know ya got somethin’ good happenin. War ain’t good for most, but yer line o’ business it is.”

Reese waved it off, looking down at her side as he shoveled in another bite. “Where’s yer other half?”

Becker glanced down, following his attention to her empty side. “Welp, Gypsy ran off with a pack up in Timberfalls, she’s gotta family of ‘er own. It happened while I was away, n’ I left her be. I visit her from time to time. Recently I been raisin’ Wyverns… n’ I jus’ got m’self a griffon egg last night. I always wondered what happened ta Nomad.. ya was good with him. Didn’t have the heart ta take him with me… I didn’t know where or what I was gonna do at the time, didn’t know if I could keep um in my circumstance.”

“I sold ‘em.” He commented as he turned back to his plate, taking another bite. His light eyes shifted her way after. When she looked over, her eyes widened at his comment. “ya sold ‘im? Ta who? Ya didn’t wanna keepum?”

“What for? He was yers and ya bailed.” His brow perked as he watched her.

She looked away, frowning. “Kinna thought he was both ours.”

“Can’t be both ours if’n one of us ain’ wanna be there no more.” Reese countered.

Becker looked back to him and her jaw clenched, “I was happy there yanno, till we fucked it up.” That was when he took a piece of well cooked bacon and bit into it. “We?” he asked as he chewed. She gave him a firm nod, “Yeah -we-. I got pregnant, Reese.”

He was in the midst of picking up his glass when he paused at her declaration. He looked her dead in the face, “You got pregnant and thought that was th’ best time t’ leave? And not tell me? What happened?”

She raked her hand through her hair, exhaling a deep breath. She turned away and watched the tender work. “I got scared I told ya. I didn’t know what else ta do. I didn’t wanna tell ya cause I knew ye’d wanna keep it and raise it, and I ain’t the motherin’ kind. I ain’t got no business…” she frowned and looked away, obviously pained.

“Yer damn right I’d wanna keep it! That’s blood, Quinn.” His jaw tensed and his rough hand pulled down his face. “If’n you ain’ want no part of it that’s on you. I coulda taken it and you coulda been on yer merry way.” He didn’t look away, still staring hard at her. “What did you do?” His words were enunciated with his rising anger.

Becker looked back at him, listening and taking in his words, her eyes brimming. She blinked and then swallowed. “I gave him ta a family in Beetletun.” Her arms crossed tight around her midsection and she went on, “He’s a handsome boy, got yer eyes, got alla ya, none of me. Yer eyes… he got yer exact eyes.”

“Him? I have a son?” His face fell and if there ever was rage to be seen on this man, it was now. “You gave -my- son away?”

She looked away, her pained expression changing to guilt. “They took me in, gave me a place ta stay until he came…. They couldn’t have no babies of their own. They cleared m’ name in exchange. I didn’t want him growin’ up like me. They’re good ta him… I make sure of it.”

“And not once did ya think that maybe I wanted him? Not once did ya think I had a right t’ him?” His jaw clenched and his words were clearly articulated. “You bartered our son for a clear name?!”

“Naw, I didn’t barter him they did it outta kindness. Cause I gave um the one thing the couldn’t never have. They love um, like I never saw in m’ life…” She exhaled, “Yea I knew ye’d want him. I wasn’t even gonna have him. I wanted ta off myself, they stopped me. I got arrested n’ taken in, told um I was carryin’ and the Lieutenant took me home, I didn’t know what for. He fed me dinner, talked me down, told me that he and his wife would give me room n’ board, even money if I had the baby n’ let um keep it. I told um I didn’t want their money, I just wanted peace, n’ ta stop livin’ on the run from the law, so he told me he’d clear m’ name after the babe was born and I could start anew, so I did.”

“You bartered him. No matter how ya spin it t’ make yerself feel good. Ya bartered him t’ clear your ass.” Reese’s face was now a seething red. “I’m getting’ him back. And whatever befalls that family is on yer conscience. That boy is an Eldridge an’ I have a right t’ my son.”

Becker stared at him, her eyes wide and damp. “The hell ya gonna do? Walk in there and take him? He’s a Lieutenant in the Seraph Guard. Maybe ya kin’ explain who ya are, but yer gonna have a fight.” Reese scoffed at her warning and her suggestion was ignored. There was no way he was going to compromise with this couple. This was his son. A son he wasn’t given the opportunity to see come into the world or grow up. He missed seeing him make a mess of his food, take his first step, and possibly his first word. She robbed him of everything. She knew what family meant to him and she spat on it for the sake of her freedom. There was nothing she could say that would justify what she did. He was livid and seeing red. “Don’t you worry ‘bout what I plan t’ do. An’ don’t think ‘bout warnin’ ‘em. I gotta big family and we can handle more than a Seraph. What he did was against th’ law, anyway. And me and mines will be ready for a fight. We hunt monsters all through Tyria. A man in th’ Seraph ain’ shit.”

Squeezing her eyes closed, she wiped at them with both hands. “Yer right, all of it. What I did was wrong, I ain’t arguing that. I did what I thought was best for him, but ya got a right ta do what ya feel is best, too. So, ya do that. I ain’t on anyone’s side but Mason’s. I want him ta be safe.”

Mason. His son’s name was Mason.

Every movement of his was angered; seething. His jaw was clenched and he made sure she was aware of it. Never had he been an angry person and never had he shown an inkling of it around her. Until now. ”What you did, Quinn, is UNFORGIVABLE.” He swallowed hard. “How old is he?”

Again, she swallowed while taking the brunt of his words, accepting them. “He just turned three.” She wiped at the corners of her eyes again, “He won’t remember um, if ya take him now. Won’t even be effected by it all….” She blinked hard, looking away. “I look after him from afar. I’m guessin’ ya ain’t gonna let me do that no more.”

“I ought t’ shoot you” His words held no remorse. “Three years old. THREE YEARS!” He sucked in a deep breath while his eyes welled up, going bloodshot in agony and rage. He had no care for how distraught or upset she looked. He didn’t believe it. “You wanna see him when ya gave him up in the first place? Ya want me t’ do YOU favors when ya took my son away?!” His head shook slow from side to side. “If’n ya ever meant anythin’ t’ me, yer a stranger now. I feel nothin’ but hatred for you. Ya better hope I find my kid.”

Becker glared at him. “Ya didn’t look for me neither, Reese! I left, but ya haven’t given a shit ta know where I went for three years. Ya coulda known earlier at yer own accord.” She sniffed. “I wasn’t hidin’ nothin’ from ya and ya still wouldn’t know unless I came here t’day ta tell ya. Sonnovabitch. I did him good, he might be yer son but he was in my body!” She pointed to her stomach, “So I did what I thought was right by him, and he’s happy now. I made him happy. I hope ya kin say the same!” She shouted back at him.

“Don’t give me that. You don’t know that I didn’t look for ya, cause I did. I even slummed at the damn Sun where we met. I looked around every damn bush, while on every damn caravan. Don’t think ya know me so well that you ain’ mean a damn thing. I loved you. I wanted ya back. But after a while, after years of remembering all the things ya liked t’ drill in m’ damn head, I gave up. Ya didn’t want me, and evidently ya ain’t want what we made in our brief happiness. That’s on you. Not me.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Can’t find someone that ain’ wanna be found.”

Clenching her teeth, she fought the full blown raw emotion tearing at her from the inside, spilling from her eyes. “I’m sorry, I know that dun matter but I’m so fuckin’ sorry, n’ I hate myself fer what I did ta us, ta ya, ta everything. I thought maybe comin’ ta tell ya after he was born, maybe we could kidnap him n’ start over…. But I didn’t know how ye’d take it. Then I saw he had good people who loved him, and I felt wrong takin’ him from um. And I knew ye’d hate me fer my choices…. I fucked everythin’ up, like I always do, but I want ya ta know, I did love ya, n’ I wish I coulda been a good momma ta him and raised him with ya.”

“That ain’t love. Love ain’ takin’ away a babe cause yer scared. Love is knowin’ that they got yer back even if ya’ll ain’ work out. Ya KNOW how we are with family. My mum is in a wheelchair and we all take care o’ her- From sons and daughters to cousins and Uncles. Family is family. We even got adopteds in our brood. Yea, ya fucked up. Royally. I can’t say what I will do after I get him, where yer concerned. Ain’ makin’ no promises.” He snatches up his gloves and shoved them in his thick coat pocket.

She nodded, getting her emotions reigned. “Y’ got a right ta how ya feel. Imma stand aside, I already done enough ta fuck things up. I ain’t gotta tell ya ta take care of him, I know ya will. All I ask is ya keep him safe. N’ I named him Mason. Ya kin do what ya want, but Mason Eldridge ain’t bad.” She cleared her throat and looked down, releasing a heavy sigh. “I’ll hope fer the best, expect the worst when it comes ta me. I know I deserve it. Ya take care, n’ keep him safe. Raise him right.”

“I’ll raise him and any help I need won’t be from you. It will be from mine. He might keep th’ name if’n I decide not t’ erase ya entirely from his life. And mine.” He snatched up His large brimmed hat and rolled it in a way that it wouldn’t lose its shape. “You ain’ who I thought ya were, Quinn. Ya bartered my son. OUR SON. To SERAPH! Ain’ Seraph who killed yer beloved wolf before Gypsy?? And that’s th’ crowd yer leavin’ our son to?!” He didn’t bother to wipe his eyes. He was justified in his display of emotion. “And just so ya know, I was teasin’ about Nomad. He’s havin’ a blast on my Ranch.”

Becker watches him, blinking and keeping her jaw clenched. There was nothing more to say to what he said, she just shook her head, swiped her sleeve over her reddened face to wipe away the tears. “I’m a real piece of shit. That’s why I ain’t in neither of yer lives. I know what I am. I ain’t denying any of it. Consider yerself lucky I left when I did. I won’t bother ya no more, Reese.” With that she turned away, walking out the door, feeling like the worst person ever.

Reese slammed some coin on the counter, leaving a half full plate of cold food. He gave her time to disappear before he eventually made his way back out of the city and to the Ranch. Pops was waiting.

[[ collab with @luckybecker ]]

#gif #Reese Eldridge #Mason Eldridge #Lucky Becker #till we fucked it up #now to tell Pops #Jedd Eldridge #The Eldridges #shit's goin' down

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