#I need to write a waiting on a miracle fic with Sophie now. I need this in my life

[captainsophiestark]

What The Fuck Is A Grid System

Jack Thompson x Reader

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Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Jack Thompson's a New Yorker, dammit, and when Peggy and Daniel leave him to find his own way through the winding streets of LA with only some shaky directions as guidance, he might need a little help from a local to see him through.

Word Count: 2,031

Category: Fluff, Humor

A/N: It is not only a miracle that this got done, but also that I'm happy with how it turned out 😂

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I narrowed my eyes as I sipped my coffee, watching a man on the sidewalk. The same guy had just walked past this building for the third time, looking increasingly irritated. He kept checking a sheet of paper in his hands, then looking up at the buildings before disappearing out of my sight. So far, he'd never been gone more than a few mintues before coming back.

I debated getting up and saying something when he returned a fourth time, although I ultimately opted to stay put. But when he came back for a fifth time looking ready to hurl the paper in his hand into traffic, I decided to do something.

I stood, setting my coffee cup down at the counter with a wave to the barista before heading out the door. The guy still stood in the middle of the sidewalk, the same spot he'd visited almost half a dozen times now, looking around the city like this time, something would change.

"Hey!" I called, strolling up to him with a wave. He turned around slowly, like he wasn't sure I was talking to him, then narrowed his eyes when he saw me approaching. I gave him my best winning smile. "You look like you could use some help."

The guy scoffed, immediately turning away from me. i just smiled a little wider. He was tall, and handsome, and clearly pretty arrogant. Unfortunately for him, he also clearly had no idea what the hell he was doing.

"So what are you looking for?" I asked, ignoring the clear brush off and stepping closer to him again. "I can probably help you find it."

"I don't need help," he snapped, at last turning to face me. I just raised an eyebrow and stared right back. He cleared his throat, quickly turning back to the paper in his hands as a flush crept up his neck. "I don't need help. This city needs help. Who the hell lays a place out like this?"

"Ohhh. I thought you had some New York enegry going. That makes sense."

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

I waved him off. "Don't worry about it. Look, you may just be able to walk in a straight line to get where you want to go in New York, but this is LA. We do things differently here."

"Differently and much, much worse."

I snorted and rolled my eyes, then snatched the paper out of his hand before he could stop me.

"Hey!"

"You're trying to get to the Sunrise Resort, right? Come on, it's this way."

"I've already tried that way."

"And clearly you did something wrong, since you ended up back here again. C'mon, let me help you. Unless you want to stand outside this coffee shop all day?"

I paused on the corner of the block, looking back at the man in question, his scribbled directions still held in my hand. He glared at me, and for a moment, I thought he really might not follow me. Then, he sighed and rolled his eyes, putting one foot in front of the other all the same as he trudged towards me.

"Fine. Let's go then."

He breezed right past me, walking with all the speed and huffiness I'd expected from him. I absolutely beamed at his retreating form, letting him get a few steps further away from me than necessary before calling out down the street.

"Wrong way, hot shot!"

He froze, his shoulders shooting up to his ears. I just grinned, waiting for him to eventually turn around. He did, slowly, a fierce scowl on his face. I had to fight back a chuckle.

"At least now we know where you were going wrong before. C'mon!"

I turned on my heel and started heading down the street in the opposite direction, this time trusting him to follow me. In less time than I'd been expecting, he caught up to me, falling into step beside me and walking with a confidence I hadn't expected him to recover for at least twenty minutes.

"You still need that paper, or do you actually know where you're going?" he huffed. I grinned and held it out to him.

"All yours!" He snatched it out of my hands, then shoved it in his pocket without another word. I let us walk in silence for another few steps, but this walk was going to be about half an hour all-told. I wasn't going to spend it walking in silence. "So... what's your name?"

The guy cut his eyes towards me, looking a little suspicious. I let the silence stretch, looking at him expectantly, and after the better part of the next block he sighed.

"Jack. What's yours?"

I told him, giving him the same beaming smile I'd given him a few times now. This time, he actually seemed a little more receptive to it.

"It's nice to meet you, Jack. So, what brings you out to LA?"

"Business. With any luck, I'll be out of here in a few days."

I laughed. "Oh, come on. Don't be ridiculous. It's the middle of winter, there's no way you're not at least a little bit happy to be in the LA sunshine over the New York winter."

"Have you had a pizza here?"

"Yes. I've also had ice cream on the beach in February. Both have been fantastic."

He snorted. "You really haven't lived yet if you think the pizza here is fanastic."

"Hm." I let my eyes wander, scanning the street ahead of us. Lo and behold, one of my favorite gelato shops was open on the next block, and even better, with almost no line. "Alright, pizza snob, time for a pit stop."

Before he could so much as open his mouth to ask a question, I grabbed Jack's arm and dragged him through the doors of the gelato shop as we walked past.

"Try doing this when you go back to New York and not freezing your ass off," I said as I stepped up to the gelato counter, pulling him with me. He huffed, but didn't put up any more of a fight. I smiled to myself as we surveyed the flavors laid out before us.

"Well, LA? What do you recommend?"

"Hm... honestly, you can't go wrong at this place. But I've always been a fan of the chocolate."

"Chocolate, huh?" He turned to the person behind the counter and called out. "We'll take two cones of chocolate."

I grinned, slipping forward to the counter and paying for the both of us while Jack grabbed our gelato cones. He turned for the cash register, then turned back to me with an incredulous look when he realized I'd beat him to it.

"I was gonna get that," he said. I just smiled and took my cone out of his stunned hand.

"You snooze you loose. Besides, I'm the one who dragged you in here. Consider it a better welcome to LA than our street system gave you."

Jack snorted, but the joke got him moving again. He fell into step beside me as we headed out of the gelato shop together.

"Well, thanks then. And I can say definitively, this has been a much better welcome than this city's ever given me before."

I laughed, leaning into Jack a little as we continued down the street, both happily eating our gelato. Unlike earlier, this time the silence was more comfortable than irritated, and I didn't mind it one bit.

As we continued making our way through the city, taking a few more gelato-style detours as we went, we fell into easy conversation. We talked about New York and LA, and Jack and I's lives in both places. He didn't seem to want to talk about work very much, so instead we talked about hobbies, things we liked to do in our free time, and even sports.

"Alright, you might've convinced me that there's something to this city that would make it bearable to be here for more than a few hours, but you will not convince me there's anything to the sports here. You don't even have a baseball team, for crying out loud."

"Oh yeah? Well both of our football teams beat all three of yours."

Jack huffed and waved me off. "Fluke. We'll get you next season."

"Like hell you will."

Jack snorted, but when I glanced over at him, I found him staring at me with an incredulous smile on his face.

"You know... I almost wish I were still lost," he said, the words tumbling out of him like he hadn't had time to think them through. "Walking around this city with you is the only time I've enjoyed myself here."

I smiled back at him, trying to ignore the way my heart sped up in my chest.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Why'd you decide to help me out, anyway?"

I shrugged. "You seemed like you needed it. And I didn't have anything more entertaining to do with my afternoon, anyway."

Jack huffed another laugh, then smiled at me.

"Well, then here's to you having way too much time on your hands."

"Cheers to that," I said, grinning right back at him.

Unfortunately, despite all our wandering and detours along the route, we'd finally made it to the hotel he'd been looking for in the first place. I heard Jack let out a small sigh as we headed into the lobby, and both of us dragged our feet more than we had for any other part of the way here.

"Well... I guess this is it, then," I said, turning to him and trying to force a smile on my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a man and a woman making a beeline for us. One of them shouted out Jack's name, a fair bit of concern and irritation conveyed in just Jack's name. I took a half step back towards the doorway, but Jack's hand shot out and caught my own before I could get further.

"Hold on. I'm not about to let the only thing worth being in this city for walk out that door without another word."

"I think your coworkers are anxious to talk to you."

Jack waved them off with his free hand. "They waited this long, they can wait a little longer. Can I get your number? I'll give you a call as soon as I'm done here. Take you out on a real date."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying my tour of LA doesn't count as a date?"

"Well-"

"I bought you gelato! There's nothing wrong with platonic gelato, but after spending an hour and a half on a trip that usually takes thirty minutes, I think it should count as date gelato."

"Fine! Fine, alright, I agree with you. Let me take you out on a second date."

I grinned. "I like the sound of that."

Jack rolled his eyes, but he didn't say anything as I grabbed a pen and quickly scribbled my number on the piece of paper he'd been trying so hard to decipher before I'd stepped in to help him. I handed it over, then leaned up to give him a quick peck on the cheek before stepping back.

"Call me," I said, slowly backing away. Jack's coworkers had stopped just short of hovering over his shoulder, and I appreciated them not interrupting our moment, but they looked increasingly impatient to talk to Jack. He didn't seem to care, his eyes never leaving me as I headed out of the lobby.

"I will."

"You better."

"I promise."

He grinned at me, and I grinned right back as I took the last few steps out of the lobby. The minute I cleared the doors, Jack's coworkers descended on him, sweeping him away with lots of gesturing and shouting I couldn't hear from beyond the glass. I watched them for another minute, then finally turned away with a smile still on my face.

Thank goodness LA didn't use a grid system. If not for our confusing network of streets, I'd never have met Jack. I couldn't wait for him to call for our second date, not least of all to point out my new argument in favor of LA's city planning. I could already tell, we were going to have fun.

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

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen

Marvel Taglist: @valkyriepirate @infinetlyforgotten @sagesmelts @gaychaosgremlin

[g0sts]

hit with tha "get to know me" tag game i love u guys! i was tagged by both @phasmama and @memosminifridge! im debby emoji fr, sorry it took me so long to get to it!

fave ships: well i apparently gravitate towards whatever the unifying thread of nandermo and jonmartin is (EDIT i fucking forgot about sted aka blackbonnet-but-i-think-im-hilarious, im in a fog today forgive me), but going further back we obviously had taakitz, preceded by destiel, preceded by johnlock, preceded all the way back in high school by tbh the blueprint of Feral Bitches Finding Each Other And Making Each Other Better And Worse All At Once... sophie and howlmovingcastle... oh wait but if we want a real throwback that still rips my heart from my chest a decade and a half later, kyo/tohru fruitsbasket. oof... gotta lie down... into the next...

first ship: well i hit on that in fave ships, but definitely kyo/tohru. back in fuckin middle school i could tell those two needed each other 😭

last song: i have spotify on right now so last one that finished was White Stripes - Icky Thump but the currently playing is yeule - Pretty Bones [EDIT from the bottom, Fleetwood Mac - The Chain is playing me out, so, that's fun for us, huh?]

currently reading: all i read is fic these days and i'll be honest i've fallen extremely behind However i'm extremely extremely invested in Alethophobia by @jay-auris and i am itching to catch up (smirk... u are not on tumblr to see this but im calling out thru the ether.... saturday.... read w me.... after pathfinder........) Literally fic of all time, yeah it's an AU but like. hear me out. it's phenomenal, it's an exceptional mystery, it's not even rly a slowburn imo they've just Been Thru It, jay is a wizard, the characterization is like. best i've seen tbh i'm Entranced and i think about it a Lot even when i fall behind

last movie: i . i think it was indeed glass onion lol

currently watching: i binged the first season of Only Murders In The Building earlier this week and am Obsessed, can't wait to watch season 2, show of all time. i'm having a mystery moment it seems

consuming: strawberry flavored water... barely... not a good food day oop im sorry

currently working on: alternating between two cross stitch projects (got one more coffin ornament Plus Another If I Am Not Out Of My Mind After This One, but my passion is in this rainbow quaker squares beast) AND in a new year's miracle, i have been Writing Again for [redacted] for an exchange (it has been literally like half a year since putting words to doc hasn't made me feel like clawing my skin off i am taking the W)

no pressure to do this if u don't feel like it! but tagging some folks i don't Think have been tagged: @wrath-of--the-lamb, @partiallyobscure, @fanfic-fugue, @space-jaam, @fivevotesdown, @nuclearparade, @gothwizardmagic, @2momsatbrunch, and tbh who ever wants to do it im tagging you too

[frzntrx]

Following on the trend, and with Kate being Indian, I kinda hope when they DO introduce Sophie that she’s latina or at the very least Spanish from like Spain or whatever…

I just like black hair okay? It’s really pretty to me (much better than stereotypical Blonde or red haired Brits in pop culture, even though said stereotypes are more realistic, albeit less common) and I’d like to see even more variety as far as the characters

[jungkookienoona]

92 Statements

I was tagged by @jungkook-gifs (which I cannot beleive omfg I love her gifs!)

RULES: you must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people

THE LAST: 1. Drink: Orange Juice 2. Phone call: Big Brother 3. text message: "Indeed we do” 4. song you listened to: BTS - Jump 5. time you cried: A week ago, two of my fics got recommended on a blog and I started crying from happiness. 6. dated someone twice: Regrettably ¬_¬ 7. kissed someone and regretted it: Yup 8. been cheated on: Yup 9. lost someone special: Not yet but my grandfather has terminal cancer so... 10. been depressed: Yup 11. gotten drunk and thrown up: YES AND IT WAS HILARIOUS! MY EX BANNED ME FROM DRINKING BECAUSE OF IT!

LIST 3 FAVOURITE COLOURS: 12-14. Black, Red and Purple

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. made new friends: Yup ^^ 16. fallen out of love: ...Does giving up on a crush count? 17. laughed until you cried: Nearly 18. found out someone was talking about you: Yup. My family does it all the time. 19. met someone who changed you: Yup. 20. found out who your friends are: Definitely  21. kissed someone on your Facebook list: They accidentally kissed me

GENERAL: 22. how many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: All of them. 23. do you have any pets: None :( 24. do you want to change your name: Nope 25. what did you do for your last birthday: Can’t remember. All I remember is being bored shitless and being upset that they didn’t see my 20th birthday as something special. But the day after I went to Comicon with my friend Sophie. 26. what time did you wake up: 7:30am, I had a doctors appiontment. 27. what were you doing at midnight last night: Watching Family Guy 28. name something you can’t wait for:  My Wings Concept Book, My GOs from Fansites and the 8th July - I’m going to the London Korean Festival with Tragic. 29. when was the last time you saw your mom: Monday. I live away from my family. 31. what are you listening to right now: Nothing 32. have you ever talked to a person named Tom: That was my ex’s name... And when I was in primary and secondary school there were 3 Toms in my classes. 33. something that is getting on your nerves: Life 34. most visited website: Tumblr 35-37. lost questions??? 38. hair colour: Black (natural: dark brown) 39. long or short hair: Short I guess (Mine is shoulder length) 40. do you have a crush on someone: Not anymore. 41. what do you like about yourself: How chill I can be about things. 42. piercings: 4 43. blood type: No idea 44. nickname: Shan 45. relationship status: Single 46. zodiac: Scorpio 47. pronous: She/her 48. favourite tv show: Hellsing Ultimate 49. tattoos: Planning to get some, I’m still working on the designs 50. right or left handed: Right handed but ambidextrous 51. surgery: I needed an operation on my eyes when I was a toddler. 52. piercing: More are wanted. 53. sport: I walk everywhere, is that a sport? I use to do Taekwondo until I broke my elbow. I might see if I can pick it back up again when I’m in uni. 55. vacation: A place that has great scenery and wi-fi

MORE GENERAL 57. eating: Nothing right now but I’m gonna cook dinner when I get home - Sticky rice with a side of Kimchi and pickled radish. 58. drinking: Nothing. 59. i’m about to: reblog a load of shit and try to find motivation to write. 61. waiting for: Nothing. 62. want: I can’t actually think of anything I want. 63. get married: Depends 64. career: I want to teach English as a forgeign langauge abroad.

WHICH IS BETTER 65. hugs or kisses: Hugs 66. lips or eyes: Eyes 67. shorter or taller: Taller 68. older or younger: Older (but everyone I’ve dated has been younger than me. They were all born in 97...). 70. nice arms or nice stomach: I could careless either way 72. hook up or relationship: Relationship. 73. troublemaker or hesitant: Mix of both.

HAVE YOU EVER: 74. kissed a stranger: No. 75. drank hard liquor: Yes 76. lost glasses/contact lenses: Yes 77. turned someone down: Yes. 78. sex on the first date: Does it count if there was no date? 79. broken someone’s heart: Yup. 80. had your heart broken: Yup 81. been arrested: Nope 82. cried when someone died: Nope. 83. fallen for a friend: Yup

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 84. yourself:  Sometimes. Depends. 85. miracles: Sometimes, if something to good to be true happens 86. love at first sight: I beleive in lust at first sight. You know attraction at first sight. 87. santa claus: I’m not 5 so no. 88. kiss on the first date: Depends. 89. angels: Nope. First of all I’m not christian.

OTHER: 90. current best friend’s name: I have more than 1 best friend 91. eye colour: Hazel 92. favourite movie: DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE I CAN’T CHOOSE!

I’m tagging: @tragicshadows @its-shovel @caratmuffler @okiekp13 @gguklo @c-jk-mrb @szycha22 @xxdreamer21xx @gyeomie-hobi @the-golden-jhope @miniyoongs @solikerez @amber-lulu @kooknochu @jvstkookie @kpopkpoop I know it’s not 20 but these are just people I noticed in my notes ^^ You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. And if there are those who aren’t tagged but want to do it, you can say I tagged you :)